Robert Shapiro, who leads Thompson Coburn’s International Trade team, continues to be a key source for media outlets covering developments related to tariff policy, including this week’s arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court. In a new Forbes article, “Prices Are Rising From Trump’s Tariffs—Can Supreme Court Stop It? What To Know,” Robert weighed in on whether there might be recourse for consumers for price increases, if tariffs are declared unlawful and companies get the tariffs they already paid refunded.
Consumers could potentially file class-action lawsuits seeking to claw back the price increases they paid, he said, as could businesses that saw the cost of their materials increase because of the new duties. “There were a lot of notices that went out saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to increase our prices to match the tariffs,’ ” Robert said, potential evidence for future litigation or negotiations.
Read the Forbes article here.
Additionally, in a recent Axios article, Robert explained potential next steps if the Supreme Court overturns some or all of Trump’s tariffs.
“If they decide that the tariffs are unlawful there will be some sort of remand back to lower courts on the remedy piece,” he said.
Read the full article here (registration required).
In another recent Axios article, Robert offered insights on Supreme Court arguments over whether the former president had the authority to impose sweeping tariffs. While Solicitor General D. John Sauer maintained the tariffs were intended to regulate foreign commerce, Robert said, “I think in some ways the solicitor general is hurt by his client.”
“His point of ‘the tariffs would be most powerful without raising money’ is hard when you have the president talking about all the money from the tariffs,” said Robert.
Read the full article here (registration required).
Follow additional updates from Thompson Coburn’s International Trade team.
