The Supreme Court ruling on tariffs today? Consumers see a partial relief

 Trump's got a plan B up his sleeve despite his loss in the Supreme Court today, declaring that Trump did not have the power to impose reciprocal tariffs. (Those are the tariffs, like the 15% on all imports from the EU). How Trump plans to get around the ruling is to abuse another law: Trump orders temporary 10% global tariff to replace duties struck down by US Supreme Court. (and upped it to 15% 2/21/2026, and that may also be challenged as illegal on the basis that there are conditions attached he my have violated) He could ask his loyal Congress to just rubber-stamp his tariffs, also.. "Tariffs are taxes," declared a 6-3 Supreme Court, and Congress has that power, not the president, to levy them.

What was carved out in the SCOTUS ruling were aluminum and steel, and those tariffs remain because they were connected to national security interests. What is absurd about those is that beverages and cosmetics, mostly in aluminum containers, will still get hit by high tariffs based on the percentage and value of aluminum or steel container part of the item (50% for those smelt and cast in the EU and 200% if it comes from designated countries like Russia)...and those costs will still just be passed on to the consumers. Automobiles and steel tariffs were not affected by the relief, either. They remain, it appears. SCOTUS did not rule if consumers get a refund of some sort for the illegally imposed tariffs. So, consumers consider the price increases caused by tariffs as your donation to the federal treasury, legal or not. Supreme Court strikes down most of Trump's tariffs in a major blow to the president

What did change today with the ending of Trump's reciprocal tariffs may be that import shipments valued at below $800 will be exempted from the Trump tariff requirements, that they all had to go through US customs. CNBC addressed the issue this morning, and further verification is needed.  This deminimus exemption caused such a mess in such giants as UPS, that these small package shipments that did not meet the requirements of US customs paperwork were simply destroyed, estimated by some to total worth in billions of dollars.Update: 2/32/2026: no, nothing changed. Deminimus is still verboten.

Full disclosure: Felicia Muftic is president of a small business importing cosmetics from the European Union, some of which come in aluminum containers and others in plastic containers. MelemUSA,LLC

So here is Trump's plan B, to put a 10% tariff on every import relieved from the 15% plus tariff by the Supreme Court decision today. He is clear he sees tariffs as a fundraiser for the treasury. What is clear to everyone else, he wants to raise money on the backs of all consumers. Tariffs are going to be paid by consumers. Per a study of 2025 by the Federal Reserve, 90% of tariffs were paid by consumers and businesses.

.Let me raise an issue that has not been connected to tariffs yet. To keep the national debt in check caused by his generous tax breaks to the very rich and his friends, the tariffs, paid by normal people, make up some of the loss to the treasury by Trump's tax breaks. The answer is to reverse the tax breaks and let those who are not on budgets pay their fair share. Tax Cuts Are Primarily Responsible for the Increasing Debt Ratio - Center for American Progress

Tariffs make things more expensive and contribute to the affordability gap and to the middle-class travails of not having enough income to cover living expenses like they once did..

Trump does not care a fig about affordability. He calls that a Democrat hoax. This should be a red flag, an indication of where his heart does not lie.

Update 2/21/2026:The impact on small businesses Trump’s tariffs get knocked out — but the hit to small business is just beginning described in this article, which is what we ourselves have experienced and the recommended solutions make sense. We have not gone out of business but that was almost a day by day discussion as we encountered chaos and inconsistencies throughout our supply chain. We have survived to continue. The kindest comment I can make is that the 10%-15% world wide tariff brings some stability to our planning and orders for product from Croatia for the next five months. What this world wide tariff will do, however, in result in continued higher prices for consumers, including for products previously exempted

Per Google AI description of our company, Melem USA LLC: Melem USA, LLC, based in Fraser, Colorado, is an authorized importer and distributor of Melem skin and lip balm, a popular Croatian pharmaceutical skincare brand. They sell directly through their website and Amazon, catering to consumers seeking relief from dry, irritated, or chapped skin caused by harsh climates. 

Key details about Melem USA, LLC and the product:

• Product Line: Focuses on the original hypoallergenic Melem balm, which is formulated with lanolin and beeswax for deep moisture.
• Business Operations: An accredited member of the Northern Colorado and Wyoming Better Business Bureau.
• Availability: Products are sold via melemorder.com and Amazon.com.
• Background: The product originates from Neva d.o.o. in Croatia, founded in 1918. 

• About Melem

  For people in harsh climates from the Rockies to the tropics, Melem means relief from dry, itchy, chapped, tough skin and lips. * ...

  

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  Melem is an accredited business member of the Northern Colorado and Wyoming Better Business Bureaus.

  

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