Raoul vows to keep fighting the new Section 301 tariffs as illegal
Kwame RaoulIllinois attorney general
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul opposed the new Section 301 tariffs as illegal and vowed to continue challenging their imposition on consumers and businesses.
“fight the Trump administration's illegal tariffs.”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Are Trump's Section 301 "forced labor" tariffs a lawful remedy, or a pretext to revive struck-down global tariffs?
On July 23, 2026, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, at President Trump's direction, imposed additional tariffs of 10% or 12.5% on imports from 60 economies under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The duties took effect July 24. USTR says each economy failed to impose and effectively enforce a ban on imports of goods made with forced labor, which it found unreasonable and a burden on U.S. commerce. Businesses and 25 states sued in the Court of International Trade. They say the forced-labor rationale is a pretext for re-creating the global tariffs the Supreme Court struck down in February, and that USTR skipped the country-by-country findings the statute requires. The Justice Department says USTR made findings for all 60 economies on a record of data, testimony and public comments. A three-judge panel heard argument on September 30, 2026. As of that date, no court had ruled on the Section 301 tariffs. The disputed question is whether the tariffs are a lawful remedy under Section 301 or a pretext to revive the struck-down global tariffs.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Raoul announced the third multistate tariff lawsuit. The release identifies the challenged duties as the latest Section 301 action.
Before the quotation
Raoul announced the third multistate tariff lawsuit.
After the quotation
The release identifies the challenged duties as the latest Section 301 action.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Raoul expressly rejects the latest tariffs and supports the lawsuit challenging them.
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Read the full caseBurlap & Barrel says it is absorbing tariff costs and calls the Section 301 duties unlawful
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Gresser says USTR never showed forced-labor goods are traded or underpriced, so it has no right to impose the tariffs
“Ours argues that USTR's 301 investigation has not actually identified a "burden" or "restriction" on U.S. commerce - the standard the statute sets for administrations wanting to use it to impose tariffs - and so the Report of last June does not give USTR a right to impose tariffs.”Read statement
Economists' brief signer Dr. Stan Veuger personally backs Professor Ilya Somin's view that the Section 301 tariffs exceed the statute
“I think the brief speaks for itself on point 1. Speaking for myself I agree with Ilya Somin's view on point 2.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Raoul vows to keep fighting the new Section 301 tariffs as illegal". First published: 2026-10-01. Last updated: 2026-10-01. https://disputeindex.com/events/4041-illinois-attorney-general-kwame-raoul-opposed-the-new