A small New York-based wine importer played a pivotal role in the U.S. court decision to block tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. Vos Selections joined four other small businesses and a coalition of 12 U.S. states in a lawsuit, arguing the tariffs posed an “existential threat” and were tantamount to a “death sentence” for American small and medium-sized enterprises.
The legal action was one Victor Schwartz, founder of Vos Selections, never imagined he would file in his 40 years of business. “I was incredulous,” Schwartz told CNN after winning the initial court ruling in May, a decision upheld on appeal yesterday. Schwartz, who specializes in Italian wine labels, was preparing a plate of pasta when his lawyer called with the historic news. “Let’s just say when I founded Vos 40 years ago, I had no idea I would be engaged in a lawsuit like this and find myself involved in an action against the executive power of the United States,” he added, evidently satisfied.
For Schwartz, Trump’s tariffs were not a new challenge. His company had already been impacted by the president’s trade policies during his first term. “We are not a big company, we cannot navigate this storm,” he explained. Schwartz was put in touch with the Liberty Justice Center, which challenged the president in court also on behalf of four other small businesses: fishing gear retailer FishUSA; women’s cycling specialist Terry Precision Cycling; electronic kit maker for children Microkits; and Genova Pipe, which manufactures pipes using resin materials imported from South Korea and Taiwan.
In a separate but related action, a lawsuit was also filed by 12 U.S. states, led by Arizona and Oregon. The legal filing argued that “by claiming the authority to impose massive and ever-changing tariffs, the president has subverted the constitutional order and brought chaos to the American economy.” The states also denounced Trump’s excessive use of declaring emergencies “for any reason he sees fit.” The president had originally announced the reciprocal tariffs based on an “economic emergency,” a justification the administration continues to assert, stating it is prepared to act without hesitation despite the court’s ruling.