A legal advocacy group filed a lawsuit on Monday challenging US President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs on foreign trade partners. The group, Liberty Justice Center, argues that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing these tariffs and has asked the US Court of International Trade to block them.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of five small businesses, targets the tariffs Trump introduced on April 2, as well as the additional duties placed on China. These businesses include a wine and spirits importer from New York and a Virginia-based company making educational kits and musical instruments.

Liberty Justice Center senior counsel Jeffrey Schwab argued that only Congress, not the president, has the constitutional authority to set tax rates, including tariffs. He stated, “No one person should have the power to impose taxes with such far-reaching global consequences.”

In response, White House spokesman Harrison Fields defended Trump’s tariffs, saying they were necessary to address unfair trade practices, particularly with China. He claimed the president is standing up for American businesses and workers by correcting trade imbalances.

This lawsuit follows another similar legal challenge in Florida, where a small business owner is also seeking to block tariffs on Chinese goods.

Trump’s tariffs include a 10% duty on goods from all countries, with higher rates for those with significant barriers to US imports. While some of the tariffs were paused for 90 days, the Liberty Justice Center argues that Trump’s use of special executive powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act doesn’t authorize such actions.