Pa. Small Businesses Celebrate Supreme Court Tariffs Ruling, But Uncertainty Remains

Thousands of small businesses across Pennsylvania paid billions under Trump's tariffs, which the Supreme Court has now struck down.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariffs, which had cost small businesses across Pennsylvania billions of dollars. While business owners are cheering the decision, they still face uncertainty about potential new tariffs and the process for recouping the money they paid.

Why it matters

The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration had a significant financial impact on small businesses in Pennsylvania, forcing them to raise prices and hurting their sales. The Supreme Court's ruling is a victory for these businesses, but the threat of new tariffs and the unclear process for refunds means they still face an uncertain future.

The details

The Supreme Court ruled that Congress alone has the power to impose tariffs, striking down the authority Trump used to implement the 'Liberation Day' tariffs. Businesses like Susquehanna Glass Company in Columbia, PA had to raise prices on products like decorated mugs from $10 to $12 to offset the added costs. The fast-changing tariff environment also disrupted business planning, with one company delaying a seasonal order to see what would happen. In total, Pennsylvanians paid $4 billion in tariffs, part of the $126 billion paid nationwide.

  • The 'Liberation Day' tariffs were imposed by President Trump.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court struck down the tariffs in a ruling last week.

The players

Walt Rowen

A third-generation owner of Susquehanna Glass Company in Columbia, PA.

Zippy Duvall

President of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Sara Albrecht

Chair of the Liberty Justice Center, the firm that brought the case against the tariffs to the Supreme Court.

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What they’re saying

“I think we're still in an era of great uncertainty with tariffs. Not only if there'll be a rebate but also, 'How do you plan going forward?'”

— Walt Rowen, Third-generation owner, Susquehanna Glass Company (gettysburgconnection.org)

“This is no way to run a worldwide economy. It's just insanity.”

— Walt Rowen, Third-generation owner, Susquehanna Glass Company (gettysburgconnection.org)

“The Liberty Justice Center's work is just beginning. We intend to help small businesses navigate the refund process, including developing a centralized database, information portal, and referral network to connect affected companies with qualified attorneys to pursue potential refund claims.”

— Sara Albrecht, Chair, Liberty Justice Center (gettysburgconnection.org)

What’s next

The Liberty Justice Center is working to help small businesses navigate the process of seeking refunds for the tariffs they paid. The court decision did not address how or if the $126 billion in collected tariffs will be returned.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's ruling against the Trump administration's tariffs is a victory for small businesses in Pennsylvania, but the threat of new tariffs and the uncertainty around refunds means they still face significant challenges. This case highlights the broader economic disruption caused by the tariffs and the need for more stability and predictability in trade policy.