Small businesses have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over recently introduced tariffs applied to goods from more than 60 countries. These duties, ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent, kicked in after temporary measures under Section 122 expired last week and are designed to combat forced labor in supply chains.
According to the Liberty Justice Center, representing spice importer Burlap & Barrel and watch retailer Collective Horology, the administration predetermined tariff rates then backfilled legal justifications targeting individual countries. Another case involves toymaker Learning Resources who won a Supreme Court battle against emergency tariffs alongside a flooring company and related businesses. Plaintiffs argue the government relied on blanket findings instead of showing how specific nations’ practices negatively impact U.S. commerce, a statutory requirement.
Asher Rapkin, co-founder of Collective Horology, highlighted that prior tariffs cost the company over $160,000 with refunds still pending. The firm imports watches from Switzerland and lacks domestic alternatives for many items. While courts previously dismissed tariffs based on emergency powers, litigation over these new Section 301 duties is currently unfolding. The White House has not commented on the latest filings but previously defended such tariffs as necessary to address unfair trade practices.
