A few days ago, there was news that 12 out of 50 states in the U.S. filed a lawsuit against President Trump, claiming that he imposed large tariffs without Congressional approval, violating the Constitution. This information is completely true.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, alleges that Trump abused emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which was not designed to apply to large-scale trade actions.

However, it is important to note that the lawsuit from the 12 states does not argue the merits of the tariffs, but rather focuses on the legal technicality: whether a U.S. president has the authority to use executive orders to impose tariffs. In the 48 years since the IEEPA was enacted, no president has ever done so.

This is a technical legal issue, and it is difficult to have a quick answer. By the time the court reviews, hears, and delivers a ruling, the trade war may no longer be a hot issue.