IN THE NEWS: Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Not Just About Refunds. Volume of US Freight Trade Could Hinge on Decision

CNBC
January 14, 2026
Lori Ann LaRocco

FROM THE ARTICLE: The looming US Supreme Court decision on the legality of many of President Donald Trump’s tariffs has companies on edge as they eye potential refunds, but the ruling also could quickly influence the volume of trade to the US ahead of the Chinese New Year, according to logistics experts.

The freight industry in the US has been in a rate recession due to lower container volumes after companies frontloaded products to soften the impact of tariffs. The pulling forward of freight altered the traditional peak season of shipping container movement in 2025.

If the tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are ruled to be illegal by the Supreme Court, imports to the US may rise as companies feel more confident about their cash situation and seek an opening to buffer inventory ahead of any revised tariff plan from the Trump administration, which officials said will be ready to go and accomplish its existing trade goals.

“If the IEPPA tariffs were to be removed from all imported goods, there would certainly be an increase in imports,” said Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics. “Especially for goods recently being sourced in higher-tariffed countries,” he said.

The Supreme Court decision could be issued as early as Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET.

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