Washington, May 22 (UNI) Twelve U.S. states petitioned a federal court on Wednesday to block President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, claiming he exceeded his authority by invoking a national emergency to impose sweeping taxes on imports from U.S. trading partners.

A three-judge panel from the Court of International Trade, which is located in New York City, reviewed arguments in a lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general from 12 states including New York and Illinois.

The states argued that Trump has misinterpreted the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, using it as a "blank check" to impose tariffs.

A ruling is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, recently attacked Trump's aggressive tariff strategy in an interview with ABC, calling it grounded in "an economic fallacy," and opposing the president's decision to implement tariffs without congressional approval.

Trump's so-called "reciprocal tariff" policy, announced on April 2 -- dubbed "Liberation Day" -- aims to address what he perceives as unfair trade practices contributing to the U.S. trade deficit.

This policy has sparked significant debate over its economic rationale and legal foundation, with critics warning of potential long-term impacts on global trade relations.

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