Feb 20 (Reuters) – Businesses and industry groups hailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s move to overturn Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs, a ruling that brings relief but leaves companies bracing for the complicated refund process ahead.
Here are some comments from industry groups and companies:
STEVE LAMAR, CEO, AMERICAN APPAREL & FOOTWEAR ASSOCIATION
“Now is the time to restore a predictable and dependable trade policy, compliant with the rule of law, that the apparel and footwear industry can rely on to temper the already heavy tariff burden facing our industry, U.S. manufacturers, and every hard-working American family that relies on our products.”
MICHAEL WIEDER, CO-FOUNDER, BABY PRODUCTS COMPANY LALO
“The Supreme Court decision didn’t say that tariffs are illegal, it’s that this way of imposing tariffs is illegal … You can do it, but there has to be a clear definitive reason.”
“We don’t have 100% of the facts, but we’ve been waiting for this and so many people have, so it is definitely a good day.”
STEVE ORAVA, CHAIR, INTERNATIONAL TRADE PRACTICE, KING & SPALDING
“The major issue that everybody’s going to be dealing with for at least the short term is some additional uncertainty … Whether you’re in favor of the tariffs or against the tariffs, there’s kind of a unified view that getting some certainty in terms of the tariff levels is what is most helpful to drive business and investment decisions.”
ANDREW WILSON, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL, POLICY, INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
“Instances where intermediaries, wholesalers, express shippers like DHL, FedEx have paid the tariff on behalf of customers, they will be named as the importer of record … I think there (is) going to be quite a lot of uncertainties, quite a lot of tension, possibly some litigation coming out of this.”
BRIAN DODGE, PRESIDENT & CEO, RETAIL INDUSTRY LEADERS ASSOCIATION
“The Supreme Court’s decision … opens the door for the Administration to engage industry more closely on trade policy to create the stability and predictability American retailers and consumers need.”
FRANCIS CREIGHTON, PRESIDENT & CEO, WINE & SPIRITS WHOLESALERS OF AMERICA
“Today’s decision restores clarity and helps stabilize an industry that depends on open markets and longstanding international partnerships.”
DAN ANTHONY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WE PAY THE TARIFFS, A COALITION OF 800+ SMALL BUSINESSES
“From a technical perspective, for the U.S. government, this is not novel or difficult … Every shipment has a code that specifically calls out the IEEPA tariffs that are paid.”
The government, he said, “should be looking to minimize future suffering.”
(Reporting by Savyata Mishra and Angela Christy M in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
