Supreme Court rules that Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs are illegal
Summary: The discussion centers around the Supreme Court's ruling that deems former President Trump's extensive emergency tariffs as illegal. Although the specific viewpoints of the participants are not detailed, the conversation likely includes analysis and reactions to this significant legal decision. Various participants engage in the discussion, but the content of their exchanges remains unspecified.
Just announced, received an email from ZONOS on looking into the ramifications.
39 comments
stringers_books_and_collectibles
OP7 months agoPart of the email I just received from Zonos. Seems, if I'm reading that correctly, that even CUSMA items will be charged 10%, until it is officially changed to 15%.
Unaffected by these changes:
Note that Section 232 tariffs (steel/aluminum) and Section 301 tariffs (China) remain in effect and are unaffected by this change. CUSMA/USMCA shipments under $800 USD will be continue to be charged duties when sent via a postal carrier. In this FAQ from CBP, CBP states that "USMCA preference cannot be claimed for postal shipments subject to Section 3 of Executive Order 14324". CUSMA/UMCA items require additional documentation that is not currently supported in the postal environment.
We'll continue to keep you updated on our webpage dedicated to these changes.
If you have questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
The Zonos Team
recped
·7 months agoI may be mistaken but I don't think the CUSMA exemption was ever in effect for postal shipments.
doc_scribe
·7 months ago...and not spelled out in the latest White House announcements either (see WH Fact Sheet linked above). However, it was suggested in the IEEPA Tariff Timeline sent by Zonos. Of particular note is this highlighted part of the following bullet point:
So I don't know for certain @recped. Guess we'll all find out Feb. 24th!
recped
·7 months agoCUSMA goods have been exempt from the previous Trump tariffs and they will continue to be exempt under the new Trump Tariffs.......
BUT
The exemption does not apply to Postal shipments, it didn't during Trump one trariffs and they won't be exempt under the Trump two tariffs.
If you use a private carrier the CUSMA exemption was available under Trump One and will continue to be under Trump Two. Be aware the CUSMA exemption could completely go away as of July 2026 when CUSMA expires.
transtraders
·7 months agoGot the following from Discog's forum:
The temporary import duty will take effect February 24 at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time.
Some goods will not be subject to the temporary import duty because of the needs of the U.S. economy or in order to ensure the duty more effectively addresses the fundamental international payments problems facing the United States, including:
certain critical minerals, metals used in currency and bullion, energy, and energy products;
natural resources and fertilizers that cannot be grown, mined, or otherwise produced in the United States or grown, mined, or otherwise produced in sufficient quantities to meet domestic demand;
certain agricultural products, including beef, tomatoes, and oranges;
pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients;
certain electronics;
passenger vehicles, certain light trucks, certain medium and heavy-duty vehicles, buses, and certain parts of passenger vehicles, light trucks, heavy-duty vehicles, and buses;
certain aerospace products; and
informational materials (e.g., books), donations, and accompanied baggage.
fergua3
·7 months agothe only 'good news' from all of this is 15% is the most orange face can charge. No more threats of 50% tariffs, for now anyway.
Don't be counting on the midterms.....IF they happen at all they will be heavily rigged. And that's not just me talking........77% of Americans believe they will be rigged too.
transtraders
·7 months agoGood news for me is that informational media is still tarriff/duty free.
Also he can only tarriff this way for 150 days. But he will probably find another way after that.
Yeah midterms will probably be rigged somehow. Democrats need to grow a pair and stop this lunitic.
grann-4629
·7 months agoDemocrats need to grow a pair and stop this lunitic.
Not just the Democrats ...
recped
·7 months agoGiven that the Republicans control the House the Senate and the Presidency how would the Democrats use "a pair"?
If the Dems retake the House in January 2027 (likely), regain partial control of the Senate (possible but not for sure), they could pass all the legislation they want and it would still do nothing because Trump could veto anything he doesn't like and the only recourse would be to achieve 75% of the Senate to override a Presidential veto. To get to that point they would need half the Republicans to go along with them. At best there are a handful of R's that might join the D's, far short of what they would need.
grann-4629
·7 months ago..77% of Americans believe they will be rigged too.
If that number came from some kind of poll, remember that polls are one of the easiest things to rig.
If the number is correct, it suggests that 77% of Americans won't even bother to vote. Why bother to vote if the outcome is rigged?
I haven't been to the US since T was elected, in spite of the fun I had when I did visit and the beautiful stuff I saw when I was there. Americans were generally upbeat and friendly to Canadians back then (!).
I just find it hard to believe that now, not even a decade later, 77% of those people I met and dined with basically believe their system of voting is corrupt. And, their glorious leader has convinced a lot of them that Canadians are nasty people.
My solution is to buy stuff from Canadian sellers only ... < bleep > the tariffs and other cross-border nonsense!
stringers_books_and_collectibles
OP7 months agoThe Orange Idiot now is going to go with 15%, instead of 10%, to teach everyone a lesson.
Dear Valued Merchant,
This morning, President Trump posted on Truth Social announcing his intent to raise the 10% global Section 122 tariff (signed into action yesterday) to 15%, effective immediately.
A few important things to keep in mind:
We are monitoring closely and will send an update the moment a signed order is published. You can also follow all updates on our webpage dedicated to these changes.
If you have questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
The Zonos Team
intimewithmusic
·7 months agoZonos being a privately held company has no visible financials to watch.
It would be interesting to know the gist of their conversation with Canada Post.
phc64
·7 months agoHere is the White House 'fact sheet":
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Imposes a Temporary Import Duty to Address Fundamental International Payment Problems – The White House
doc_scribe
·7 months agoThank you for posting this @phc64 . I was ready to do so myself.
I doubt very much that the hard target of these executive orders will be cottage online sellers - here or elsewhere - who follow time-honoured business practices, sell authentic as-sourced/as-described/as-shown goods, and back that up with quality customer service.
transtraders
·7 months agoLooks like the orange turd is keeping the de minimus suspension in place:
Continuing the Suspension of Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries – The White House
intimewithmusic
·7 months agoYoure all entitled to extrapolate and the reactions are interesting. There are so many litigations going on down there I wouldnt believe any of what comes out of Washington for awhile.
Except for you "Zonosians" its business as usual. Its ironic Zonos lobbied to dump the de minimis and donated to his campaign and it looks like they will be in suspended animation.
Canada Post would be the place to watch. See if shipping thru Snap Ship to the USA is possible.
My experience with EIS in both directions including buying from the US has been a bad experience. Ordered a magazine from WI on Feb 8. $15 shipping. ETA March 4. Totally unacceptable.
Unfortunately we are all on an American platform that is slow to seize opportunities.
mrdutch1001
·7 months agoFor myself it is still business as usual as I don't ship outside Canada(as of Aug. 2025) and that decision was the best for me! My other selling site is doing rather well with Canada only customers , so I really don't need eBay... I will continue to list items here on eBay from time to time, just to have a presence here, at least until I decide to exit stage left and let eBay be in the past...
marnotom!
·7 months agoWe're getting way off topic, but what would be acceptable to you, @intimewithmusic? My wife recently purchased something shipped from Redmond, WA that was even lighter than a magazine. It was shipped by USPS First Class Package International and the postage on the envelope said US$19.40, about as cheap as it gets for shipping merchandise from the States these days if paying USPS counter rates.
In addition, the item went down to Los Angeles before heading back north to Richmond and Burnaby, where it was processed and sent over to us on Vancouver Island.
Having said all that, the item took only eight days to reach us, so there's that in its favour over eIS, I suppose.
intimewithmusic
·7 months agoIt hasn't even left the USA yet so I can't say. With the exchange rate the shipping was $19.10ca for a skinny downbeat mag taking a month in transit with a huge carbon footprint trailing behind it.
Not sure why you're asking when you have no skin in the game.
marnotom!
·7 months agoSo you're already labelling eIS's handling of the magazine's shipment as "unacceptable" but you can't say what would be acceptable to you on account of the fact that the item's tracking suggests that it hasn't left the US yet. I don't understand, but you do you.
All shipping has a carbon footprint behind it. Your magazine isn't going on a solo road trip. It's travelling along existing shipping corridors and hitching a ride. Those trucks carrying your magazine are going to travel those routes and highways regardless. They're going to have the same environmental impact whether or not your magazine is on board. Having your magazine go a more direct route might mean yet another truck has to be employed. My wife's widget didn't go directly from Redmond/Seattle to Victoria and then up-island. If it were, USPS would have to create another delivery route for that to happen and load up another truck or airplane.
And, yes, the shipping cost you C$19.10. My wife paid at least that much in US dollars for USPS. Shipping lightweight merchandise internationally by the piece is getting expensive. Gas went up to $1.76 a litre in my neck of the woods this week, not too far behind Vancouver. You seem to be enjoying a price war in Kelowna, which may be affecting your perception of transportation costs.
And, no, I don't have a vested interested in the purchase of your magazine, but nobody else on this board does, either. I was just wondering what you would find "acceptable" for the delivery of your magazine if not eIS.
reallynicestamps
·7 months agoOrdered a magazine from WI on Feb 8. $15 shipping. ETA March 4. Totally unacceptable.
More important is the actual date it is delivered.
Some of those ETAs are wildly pessimistic.
mrdutch1001
·7 months ago"Ordered a magazine from WI on Feb 8. $15 shipping. ETA March 4. Totally unacceptable."
and perhaps your expectations within this current chaotic envirnoment are unacceptable!
lacemaker3
·7 months agoUnfortunately, I don't think the SCOTUS decision announced today is going to make a huge difference in the short term ... I think other measures will be taken which may delay or reduce the effects of the SCOTUS decision.
To clarify some points:
The SCOTUS ruling today did not say that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) (IEEPA) was illegal.
The SCOTUS ruling says that the president can't impose tariffs under the IEEPA. So this means that the IEEPA tariffs specifically, meaning the tariffs that were imposed under the IEEPA, are illegal.
The SCOTUS ruling today did not say anything about the ending of the de minimis exemption. The de minimis was not addressed in this ruling, so the de minimis exemption is still gone.
What this will mean, in practice, for small businesses importing/exporting goods to the USA is still to be determined. As Zonos has said, we don't know yet.
I reviewed the official publication of Executive Order 14324, published in the Federal Register July 30, 2025, to try to understand what the possible implications may be. (A federal law in the USA is not official until it has been published in the Federal Register, and this is the official version of the law.)
I will quote the relevant passages, to highlight the important informattion, and also give screenshots of the official document for anyone who wants to see the full text.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/05/2025-14897/suspending-duty-free-de-minimis-treatment-for-all-countries
This executive order makes a distinction between goods that are transported by non-postal carriers (ie. commercial carriers) and postal carriers (i.e. post offices, or their carriers operating on their behalf). Section 1 of the order has the introduction, background, and reasoning behind the decision.
Section 2 (a) gives the new requirements for non-postal carriers (componies like UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. unless they are transporting goods for a postal carrier). This part says:
- this ends the de minimis exemption for most goods transported by non-postal carriers
- except for books and instructional media which are (still) exempted by the specified US Code
- all of those goods have to have all applicable duties paid, which included the IEEPA tariffs even though they were not called out specifically
- all of the OTHER duties, taxes, etc. still have to be paid, it is only the IEEPA tariffs that were ruled to be illegal
- this means that the payment for the duty, fees, etc. have to be filed through the online ACE system
Then Section 2 (b) ends the de minimis exemption for postal shipments and says:
And Section 3 requires the postal carriers (or qualified representatives) to collect and remit the duties, and defines the duties for postal shipments to be those ordered by IEEPA tariffs only:
- this is what Zonos has been doing for Canada Post shipments
So, this means that:
- there may be a new executive order issued in the near future, to address the rates that will be charged on postal packages
- or, USCBP may issue guidance on this
- Zonos, Canada Post and the Universal Postal Union (for other countries), will be waiting to find out what fees they have to collect in the future
easoss
·7 months agoThe more things change the more they stay the same. This is how it feels to me. This uncertainty will continue until the midterms at least.
stringers_books_and_collectibles
OP7 months agoYet another email from ZONOS:
Dear Valued Merchant,
We have an important update on U.S. tariff activity.
CBP has informed us that existing IEEPA duties should continue to be collected until further guidance is received from the Court of International Trade on how to implement the recent Supreme Court ruling. We will be resuming invoicing and will notify you before doing so.
Additionally, President Trump announced his intent to sign an executive order later today imposing a 10% global tariff on all nations under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Here's what you need to know right now:
Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 gives the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 15% for up to 150 days to address trade deficits or a dollar crisis. Because it operates under a separate legal authority from IEEPA, today's Supreme Court ruling does not affect it.
We are monitoring this closely and will send an update as soon as the order is signed and enforcement guidance is available from CBP. You can also keep track of our updates on our webpage dedicated to these changes.
If you have questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out.
Best regards,
The Zonos Team
ni-205356
·7 months agoI assume, now it's very likely eBay will reinstate Canada Post shipping lable printing service back... hopefully the same good discount will stay.
flipistics
·7 months agoUnlikely. Trump has already announced a 10% global tariff (for up to 150 days) while he prepares to reinstate additional tariffs using other laws.
phc64
·7 months agoAnd for the 10% global tariff Trump is now introducing, the exemption for "instructional materials" under the IEEPA will not apply. So books, CDs, stamps will be subject to the tariff.
doc_scribe
·7 months ago@phc64 wrote:
For what this may be worth, my recent Canada Post media shipment to the U.S.A. using only the minimally required 6-digit HS Code 8523.49 for "optical media", instead of the full 10-digit HS Code 8523.49.4000 for "instructional materials" both came up in Zonos as 0% IEEPA due. USPS handoff and delivery also seemed pretty much like the old-normal under the USMCA.
So let's see what actually happens here...
ricarmic
·7 months agoThere's also two aspects, what might/will happen and what people are worried will happen, ie US customers may again avoid purchasing anything outside the country for fear they're going to get billed an extra 10% or some other amount depending on what all progresses. We sellers lose both ways..... folks at least in my zero tariff category were getting comfortable buying without "fear of tariffs".
In a way this is probably what the POTUS wants, if folks in the US are worried about buying stuff outside the country theoretically they'll buy it inside instead.... my stamps are the same as anyone else's in the US.
phc64
·7 months agoCorrection....but more confusion: The White House has now issued a 'fact sheet' stating there will be an exemption for "informational materials (e.g. books)". Unlike the IEEPA, it does not explicitly state that things like CDs and records are considered "informational materials". The new 10% tariff goes into effect on February 24. There will continue to be no 'di minimus' exemption.
mrdutch1001
·7 months ago"I assume, now it's very likely eBay will reinstate Canada Post shipping lable printing service back."
I'd not hold my breath on that thought!
These tariffs aren't going to disappear over night...in fact I would expect there is already a plan of action by the USA dictator to replace with something"more legal" and more "lethal!"
Remember this is a person who is revengeful, believes he is above the law and that he can sidestep anything that the courts decide...
grann-4629
·7 months agoAnd the first word out of his mouth after he was born is 'tariffs'. Remember 'Rosebud' ...
recped
·7 months agoYou are being extremely optimistic! With the Di Minimis gone (not part of the SCOTUS decision) and all postal shipments requiring formal entries eBay would still have to institute customs processing capabilities. eBay has made absolutely no interest in this as it's basically the only rational for EIS. Until eBay integrates a service like Zonos into their shipping it simply won't be possible for eBay to offer US shipping via Canada Post.
cpjcollectibles
·7 months agoDe Minimis was part of the SCOTUS decision as it was Suspended (not removed) due to IEEPA which was ruled unconstitutional. So it seems to be decided that after this 150 Day 10% tarriff window closes it should be back in effect. Unless there is more funny business (which is likely but one can hope).
stringers_books_and_collectibles
OP7 months agoReceived another email from ZONOS:
Hello Valued Merchant,
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful. See the full ruling here.
We are awaiting guidance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on how this ruling will be applied to incoming shipments.
Your daily or weekly invoice will be delayed until we receive further clarification.
Best regards,
The Zonos Team
intimewithmusic
·7 months agoNo point in saying much yet as reports are changing by the minute. There is no response from Washington albeit $175 Billion in tariffs appear to need refunding.
Many companies including Costco have been filing for refunds of tariffs since December in the event this happened.
All this and it's officially "Love Your Pet Day" today too!
Things are lookin' up!
grann-4629
·7 months agoLate for Pet Day, but I love my pet Everyday!
ricarmic
·7 months agoYep was just about to post this:
================================================
Hello Valued Merchant,
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a ruling regarding IEEPA tariffs on postal shipments. Zonos is actively reviewing the decision and what it means for your account.
We are assessing how this ruling impacts duty calculation and invoicing for U.S.-bound postal shipments.
What to expect: We will send another email shortly with details on any changes to your quotes, invoices, or workflows.
Best regards,
The Zonos Team
================================================
Most probably this just enters us into another phase of uncertainty, as I understand it Trump has a backup plan if this were to happen, so if that's right things will be unpredictable again for a while.
So far my "world" of stamps has been unaffected, ie no tariffs, hopefully more other "worlds" can join me!