Florida-based Women-Owned Business Sues Trump Over Tariffs

Just a few weeks prior, Emily Ley's online presence was all about sharing tasty recipes and snapshots of her family life.

However, with President Donald Trump's implementation of tariffs, Ley believes her entrepreneurial aspirations are being threatened. She found herself unexpectedly leading a struggle affecting millions.

"There was so much misinformation regarding tariffs, their payers, and their effects on employees and commerce," Ley noted in an interview. "So recently, I decided it was imperative for me to speak out."

Ley, who is not only an author and social influencer with a substantial following but also a mother of two, runs Simplified, a small stationery business in Florida. The nine-woman team depends on Chinese manufacturing for their planners, which are now jeopardized by tariff policies.

"I shared a few in-depth slides on Instagram detailing the tariffs, their impact on my company, and the expenses we've incurred from them, which quickly gained attention," explained Ley. "I'm the one managing the finances, so I know the numbers."

Legal Action Against Trump’s Tariff Strategy

Ley’s Instagram activity resulted in a collaboration with the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a Libertarian legal team now representing her in a lawsuit against Trump. The case involves Homeland Security Secretary and Customs and Border Protection’s Acting Commissioner.

Filed in Florida’s Northern District, the lawsuit claims Trump overstepped the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by applying tariffs on all Chinese exports. The Act was designed for fast responses to international crises, not for imposing broad tariffs.

The 1970s law providing the president extensive emergency authority was cited to justify these tariffs. Should Ley's legal challenge prevail, it could dismantle these duties entirely.

"Congress holds the authority to impose taxes and regulate foreign trade," asserted John Vecchione, senior counsel at NCLA. "The administration ignored these constitutional requirements."

Following several trade disputes, U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods escalated to 145%, with China retaliating by increasing theirs to 125% as of mid-April.

The White House reportedly did not reply to requests for remarks.

Ley’s Determination to Persist

Ley began creating planners in 2012 after identifying a gap in the market for women like her managing multiple responsibilities.

Initially, she sought local production but found costs prohibitive at $38 per planner, leading to minimal profit despite pricing at $50 and strong sales.

After a lengthy search for cost-effective local production, Ley turned to certified ethical factories in Shenzhen by 2013. Simplified now offers a vast array of planner designs priced between $20 to $60, with production costs forming a quarter of sales prices.

"China’s facilities were essential for realizing our product ambitions, including special bindings, decorative corners, pockets, and packaging," explained Ley. "Such resources aren't domestically available."

Since Trump instituted tariffs on Chinese imports in 2017, Simplified has paid approximately 25% in duties, amounting to almost $1.2 million by year’s start.

Contemplating a 145% tariff could mean up to one million dollars in tariff costs this year alone, posing drastic business decisions, from workforce reductions to potential closure.

"I did not anticipate taking legal action against the president in the future, yet as the owner of a women-led business, I’m resolved to fight," declared Ley. "If my business ends here, I won’t go down without a battle."