The Supreme Court invalidated Trump’s most sweeping tariffs, finding that he does not have the authority to impose the levies using an emergency powers law.<\/p>\n
TAMPA, Fla. \u2014 A recent Supreme Court decision on tariffs is drawing mixed reactions from Tampa Bay-area business owners, some of whom say months of uncertainty have strained operations, while others report record growth tied to rising costs of overseas goods.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the Supreme Court invalidated President Trump’s most sweeping tariffs<\/a>, finding in a 6-3 ruling that he does not have the authority to impose the levies using an emergency powers law.<\/p>\n The 6-3 decision<\/a> included three liberals and three conservatives in the majority. CBS News reported that the six justices found the law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, does not give the president the power to impose tariffs.<\/p>\n Local businesses say the rapidly shifting tariff landscape has been difficult to navigate, especially without the scale and resources of major corporations such as Amazon or Shein. Owners say the high court\u2019s ruling Friday could either significantly help \u2014 or hurt \u2014 their bottom line.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hardest part is that it’s been very unpredictable, and it’s just changing constantly,\u201d said Abigail StClair, owner of TeBella<\/a>, a loose-leaf tea retailer in the region.<\/p>\n With four brick and mortar locations, including their flag ship shop on Davis Islands, StClair said the past few months have been marked by uncertainty. That’s in large part, StClair said, because most of her products are sourced from overseas suppliers. With about 100 different loose-leaf tea flavors, including orange amaretto, she said the business has had to adjust repeatedly to policy changes.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s been chaotic. So, I’m not sure that rolling it back will be the smoothest process either, but we’re grateful that we’re at least headed in that direction. I am so hopeful that things will get a lot easier,\u201d StClair said.<\/p>\n While some import-reliant businesses have struggled, others say tariffs have created new opportunities.<\/p>\n