Rick Woldenberg says it is not in his nature, nor in step with the mission of his Chicago-area toy enterprise, to sit down quietly within the face of an existential risk. So final April, a couple of weeks after the Trump administration unveiled sweeping tariffs on so-called “Liberation Day,” he took motion.
Woldenberg sued President Trump and his prime advisers, alleging in a 37-page grievance Mr. Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs amounted to an unlawful “Govt Department energy seize.” After a decrease courtroom sided with Woldenberg in June, the Trump administration appealed, and on Wednesday, the Supreme Courtroom heard the case to resolve the destiny of the president’s signature financial coverage.
“I simply wasn’t keen to be led to a slaughter by the politicians,” Woldenberg instructed “CBS Night Information” anchor Maurice DuBois. “So we did what we’re allowed to do, which is to push again.”
Woldenberg heads Studying Sources, which manufactures most of its 2,000 instructional toys in Asia. He has taken a path that stands in stark distinction to many prime enterprise leaders who grouse privately concerning the uncertainty wrought by Mr. Trump’s tariffs however keep quiet in public or attempt to foyer the president behind closed doorways.
“I am not a politician and this isn’t a political motion,” Woldenberg mentioned. “It is a lawsuit over the interpretation of a legislation.”
The Supreme Courtroom is being requested to weigh in on whether or not the president has the authorized authority to levy tariffs on a international nation with the intention to tackle a nationwide emergency, such because the fentanyl disaster, unlawful migration, or persistent commerce deficits, all of which Mr. Trump has cited.
Ought to the Courtroom uphold his tariffs, Mr. Trump has mentioned the choice would assure American prosperity. If Woldenberg prevails, the White Home claims financial disaster would comply with as a result of the administration may be compelled to pay again billions to American corporations.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned final month the U.S. must refund about half of the greater than $200 million in tariff income collected this 12 months. Woldenberg estimates a 3rd of his 500 workers have needed to shift their roles to give attention to tariffs. Studying Sources has paid between $5 million and $10 million in tariffs this 12 months up to now.
“I undoubtedly need my a reimbursement,” he mentioned. “The federal government has chosen to hit us with an enormous tax.”
For years, Woldenberg has fought authorities makes an attempt to infringe on his enterprise. In 2009, he fought the Obama administration on harder lead-testing guidelines in toys. And whereas he donated $7,000 to the Kamala Harris marketing campaign within the 2024 election, Woldenberg insists his determination to sue the president is not political. He has beforehand given to each Democrats and Republicans.
On a current Friday morning, staff on the firm’s 356,000-square-foot warehouse, north of Chicago, have been making ready and loading shipments certain for large field retailers like WalMart and mom-and-pop toy shops nationwide.
Woldenberg says factories in China and Vietnam have distinctive benefits: labor to assemble objects like the corporate’s ever-popular toddler money register and supply supplies for merchandise like “BubblePlush,” a brand new kids’s yoga ball that he expects to do properly this Christmas. He mentioned shifting manufacturing to the U.S. could be unattainable.
“We will not do it,” mentioned Woldenberg, who took over in 1998 the enterprise his household has run for many years. “And we do not see our opponents doing it.”
What they’ve achieved is play “whack-a-mole,” reacting to virtually day by day swings within the tariff fee. For instance, after Mr. Trump took purpose at China, elevating the tariff fee to 145%, Studying Sources shifted some manufacturing to India. However then in August, the president raised India’s tariff fee to 50%, and Woldenberg raced to ship these merchandise to the usto keep away from further penalties.
“It was like a bat-outta-hell emergency,” he mentioned. “And we had till Sept. 16 to clear customs on this nation and the boat sauntered in six hours late. So, that price us 50 grand.”
Together with Woldenberg’s case, the Supreme Courtroom heard an identical case introduced by 5 different small companies and a gaggle of Democratic state attorneys common. In that case, a federal appeals courtroom dominated most of the president’s tariffs are unlawful.
The case is the primary through which the Supreme Courtroom will instantly resolve the legality of one of the consequential of Mr. Trump’s second-term insurance policies. The excessive courtroom has weighed in on an interim emergency foundation on challenges to most of the president’s initiatives, most lately in his bid to fireplace Federal Reserve commissioner Lisa Prepare dinner.
Woldenberg mentioned he is assured the Courtroom will grant him aid.
“We and the a whole bunch of 1000’s of different equally located companies will get the unlawfully collected taxes rebated to us,” he mentioned.
