WASHINGTON — Twenty-five US states, nearly all led by Democrats, sued Donald Trump’s administration yesterday over wide-ranging tariffs, arguing that the president had exceeded his authority in imposing the new levies on dozens of countries.

The states filed suit at the US Court of International Trade in New York, asking that judges halt the implementation of the tariffs, declare them unlawful and order the government to issue refunds.

“There is no rational fit between the purported problem of forced labor in international supply chains and the blanket global tariffs the USTR imposed,” the coalition of states argued in a court filing, referring to the US Trade Representative’s office.

The challenge is related to Trump’s latest salvo of tariffs of between 10 and 12.5 per cent imposed against 60 trading partners — forming the bulk of US imports — last month.

The tariffs were imposed after probes by the USTR’s office over allegations of “forced labor,” conducted under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.