Staff Reports
A gaggle of small businesses is taking a swing at President Trump over his so-called “Liberation Day” tariff plan, claiming that he is running amok by overstepping the powers granted to Congress. The drama unfolds in a lawsuit filed by the Liberty Justice Center, which has landed in the U.S. Court of International Trade. According to these business owners, the declared emergency concerning trade deficits is nothing more than a wild figment of the President’s imagination—a bit like a fairy tale, but with less magic and more paperwork.
The crux of the matter revolves around the Trump administration’s blanket 10% tariff imposed on imports, bolstered by reciprocal tariffs on other nations—especially not-so-coincidentally, like China. While the lawsuit argues that these long-standing trade deficits are not exactly an ’emergency’ or ‘threat,’ one must wonder what these business folks have been smoking. After all, Trump paused the high reciprocal tariffs for negotiations, yet kept the blanket tariffs and that eye-popping 145% levy on Chinese goods firmly in place. It seems the administration is playing a game of fiscal chess while these businesses might be stuck on checkers.
Now, the White House is trumpeting that this tariff strategy is sanctioned by the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. They claim it allows presidents to wiggle some muscle without Congress getting in the way during supposed emergencies. However, the lawsuit’s authors want the courts to slap down what they term as Trump’s “unprecedented power grab” and remind everyone that taxation should ideally come with representation, as per good old American tradition. It’s a neat way to twist the narrative, because who wouldn’t want to stand up for their own taxes?
Tariff lawsuit from small businesses accuses Trump of usurping Congress’ powerhttps://t.co/WE3Vgfqg6m pic.twitter.com/nyN3kt0Nej
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) April 16, 2025
The list of plaintiffs reads like a who’s who of small businesses, from a New York wine importer to a Vermont cycling apparel manufacturer. One business, Terry Precision Cycling, recounted a sob story about once manufacturing all its apparel in the U.S.A. before deciding to chase cheaper production overseas to keep the lights on. The implied conclusion? They want consistent government policies to bring that production back without burdensome tariffs. Meanwhile, other businesses are just sitting tight and avoiding the inevitable price hikes that tariffs usually bring—kind of like waiting for a bus that always shows up late.
On the flip side, defenders of Trump’s tariff plan, including White House principal deputy press secretary Harrison Fields, aren’t shy to declare that this is just what Main Street needed. They argue the President is merely trying to right the wrongs inflicted by countries like China, thereby evening the playing field for American workers and businesses. Tariffs, they say, are a powerful tool for bringing jobs home, not to mention a way to put a dent in foreign reliance for essential goods. Sure, tariffs mean higher prices for consumers, but those are the sacrifices they must endure for the greater good of American manufacturing, right?
The long game is touted. Sure, there may be some short-term hiccups, but I guess everyone involved in these businesses can just hold their breath until the long-lasting benefits—like new jobs and a self-sufficient America—kick in. If muddling through some inflation is the price to pay for rescuing America from the clutches of the global market, it sounds like a trade-off that’s worth consideration.
