The ruling, handed down late on Monday by U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Corley in San Francisco, did not delve into the merits of California's lawsuit. Now, three separate U.S. a

But the court left open a path for state officials to appeal to the liberal-leaning U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

President Donald Trump has raised steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% from 25%, following through on a pledge to boost US import taxes to help domestic manufacturers.

US tariffs on steel and aluminum doubled to 50% as of 12:01 am ET on Wednesday, a move cheered by the beleaguered US steel industry but decried by heavy users of the metals, from car makers to can manufacturers.

The US administration said the latest escalation in Trump's trade wars will secure the US steel industry and curb foreign countries from flooding the US market with low-cost metals. DW has the latest.