The Liberty Justice Center filed a new lawsuit on behalf of U.S. food business Gellert Global Group, urging the U.S. Court of International Trade U.S. to strike down the 50% tariffs on around $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, which took effect August 22.
BBC News reports that the Liberty Justice Center is one of the groups that successfully challenged President Donald Trump’s so-called "liberation day" import taxes against a wide range of trading partners, which the U.S. Supreme Court in February 2026 deemed illegal, prompting billions in refunds.
The fresh lawsuit argues the White House exceeded its authority in imposing the tariffs and caused immediate "harm to American businesses," and calls for refunds with interest for affected importers.
Gellert Global Group is a third-generation family business that is paying 50% tariffs on cheese exported from Canada. The New Jersey-based firm is also facing retaliatory tariffs from Canada on American-made cheese it sells north of the border.
Read More: Canada Hits Back on U.S. Tariffs as Carney Says ‘At War’ on Trade
In announcing the 50% tariffs on Canada after trade talks failed in August, Trump invoked section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act, the Great Depression-era law known more familiarly as the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act. It’s the first time he has cited that measure as justification for imposing tariffs.
