On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6–3 ruling striking down the sweeping, IEEPA-based tariffs. In short: the Court found that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs/duties in the way these measures were implemented. The decision covered the broad “reciprocal” tariffs that applied across nearly every country. What happens next operationally is still developing, especially around how refunds (if any) will be handled and what steps importers may need to take. Tariff risk also doesn’t disappear; it may shift to other legal tools/statutes.

One important clarification: this ruling does not include Section 232 tariffs, including those on steel, aluminum, autos/auto parts, copper, and wood/wood furniture, which remain in place.

What it means for importers this week

• Expect a transition period. The legal decision is clear; day-to-day implementation details are still developing.
• Do not assume immediate duty changes at time of entry.
• Your exposure is likely broad if you import across multiple countries (given the “reciprocal” scope).
• Refund timing and process are unclear and could require additional steps.
• Scenario planning matters because tariff actions may reappear under different authorities.

The big operational risks to manage

• Landed cost volatility: Duty assumptions may change, but not necessarily on your next shipment.
• Pricing and margin: Quotes, price lists, and customer agreements may be out of sync with current duty reality.
• Entry timing: Shipments clearing now vs. later may face different outcomes as guidance evolves.
• Contracts and pass-through language: Who eats duty changes, seller, buyer, or shared? Clarify now.
• Cash flow: Uncertainty around refunds (and timing) can impact working capital planning.

What to do now (5 action bullets)

• Don’t assume immediate duty changes. Treat this as “implementation pending” until official guidance is issued.
• Preserve entry documentation and duty payment records. Keep a clean, searchable set of entry summaries, invoices, and duty payment confirmations.
• Identify which lanes and SKUs were exposed. Prioritize your highest-duty products and your highest-volume import lanes.
• Scenario-model landed cost for the next 30–60 days. Build at least two models: “no immediate change” vs. “change after guidance,” and stress-test margin.
• Set a customer communication + escalation path. Align Sales, Finance, and Operations on what you will (and won’t) promise while details are still developing.

This is not legal advice, talk to your customs broker/trade counsel for formal guidance.

What we’re doing for clients at GLC

As a freight forwarder supporting importer operations, our focus is keeping shipments moving while you maintain control of cost and risk.

• Monitoring updates and sharing operational summaries as official guidance evolves (still developing).
• Cost-to-serve scenarios to help you understand margin impact by lane, SKU, and shipping mode.
• Broker coordination support so your forwarding and brokerage workflows stay aligned during fast policy shifts.
• Documentation checklist for import teams to keep entry records organized for whatever steps come next.
• Shipment prioritization guidance to reduce disruption, what to expedite, what to hold, and what to reroute based on your risk tolerance.

If you want a fast “tariff exposure + operational readiness” review, email us at [email protected] and we’ll help you turn this ruling into a practical plan, quickly, clearly, and with your next shipments in mind.

FAQs importers are asking right now

1) Will I get refunds for duties already paid?
Refunds are unclear / still developing and could be complicated. Don’t assume automatic refunds, monitor official guidance and consult your broker/trade counsel.

2) When will my duties change at the time of entry?
Timing is still developing. Don’t assume immediate changes until official implementation instructions are issued.

3) What about shipments already in transit or arriving this week?
Treat them as business-as-usual for clearance unless and until guidance changes. Preserve documentation, and align with your broker on entry timing and recordkeeping.