Oregon Pushes Back on New Trump Tariffs Hurting Businesses and Working Families

Salem, OR - Governor Tina Kotek is supporting a new legal challenge led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of states pushing back against the latest round of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. The lawsuit argues the administration is unlawfully imposing sweeping tariffs that will drive up prices and hurt trade-dependent states like Oregon.

"These tariffs are another tax on working families," Governor Kotek said. "They drive up the cost of everyday goods while creating more uncertainty for Oregon businesses that rely on trade. Oregon's economy depends on strong global partnerships, and we cannot afford policies that take money out of Oregonians' pockets."

Oregon's economy relies heavily on international trade, with local manufacturers, farmers, ports, and small businesses deeply connected to global markets. Governor Kotek has repeatedly warned that tariffs imposed without clear legal authority threaten to raise costs for working families while undermining Oregon businesses that depend on stable trade relationships.

Last year, the Governor convened a roundtable with Oregon businesses, manufacturers, and exporters to discuss the impact of the administration's initial tariffs. Participants described rising costs for materials, supply chain disruptions, and growing uncertainty about their ability to compete globally.

The new lawsuit challenges the administration's use of Section 122 of the Trade Act to impose broad tariffs. The statute was originally designed to address specific balance-of-payments crises under outdated monetary systems, not to authorize sweeping tariffs across major sectors of the economy. Oregon and the coalition argue the administration's interpretation stretches the law beyond what Congress intended and bypasses Congress's constitutional authority to regulate trade.

Governor Kotek emphasized that the issue is about economic stability and affordability for families.

"This is common-sense economics," Governor Kotek said. "When you slap tariffs on goods across the economy, costs go up and purchasing power goes down. Oregonians are already feeling the pressure of higher prices, and the federal government should be focused on lowering costs, not raising them."

The Governor reaffirmed that her administration will continue working with state partners, businesses, and workers to defend Oregon's trade-dependent economy and push back against policies that increase the cost of living.

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