The Replacement Tariffs Are Illegal Too
While the Trump administration is expected to appeal, Thursday’s ruling could set off another round of tariff refunds.
Good morning!
Here are today’s highlights:
On the latest Dashboard podcast, Shawn Busse talks about the best options for a local business that wants to be found in its own market.
Meanwhile, more companies are experimenting with ways to reach customers directly through ChatGPT.
Gene Marks says business owners should take the time to understand the Trump administration’s new 401(k) rules.
ADP reported this week that the smallest businesses are laying off employees.
THE TARIFFS
President Trump’s latest tariff scheme has been struck down: “A panel of federal judges on Thursday found President Trump had violated the law when he imposed a 10-percent tariff on most U.S. imports, dealing yet another legal setback to the White House in its efforts to wage a trade war without the express permission of Congress. In a split ruling, the Court of International Trade found that Mr. Trump had wrongly invoked a decades-old trade law when he applied those duties beginning in February. The president imposed the levies after his previous set of punishing tariffs was struck down by the Supreme Court.”
“The decision appeared to place, for now, new limits on Mr. Trump’s trade powers, which he has wielded aggressively in hopes of resetting relationships with allies and adversaries, raising new revenue and encouraging more companies to make their products in the United States.”
“While the court declared Mr. Trump’s tariffs to be illegal, it only explicitly blocked their collection from small businesses and some states that had sued over their legality. It remained unclear how the administration would interpret that order, though it is widely expected to appeal.”
“The decision also raised the likelihood that Mr. Trump might once again have to pay back money collected from the illegal duties. A refund process is already underway for the roughly $166 billion collected under Mr. Trump’s prior set of sweeping tariffs.” READ MORE
THE 21 HATS PODCAST: DASHBOARD
Should You Pay $3,500 a Month for SEO? Most business owners know they need marketing. What many don’t know is what they should be paying for it—or what they should expect in return. So when an SEO agency proposes a $3,500-a-month plan, how do you assess whether it’s a smart investment or an expensive gamble? Do you know how many new customers it would take to make that spend worthwhile? Do you even have the data to answer that question? This week, Shawn Busse says too many owners are making those decisions in the dark. He offers a practical framework to help you do the math to evaluate marketing proposals, set realistic expectations, and decide what’s worth spending—and what isn’t.
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