The Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs, TikTok Blinks & FedEx/UPS Shrink: The Latest Logistics News
The Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs
In a monumental 6-3 decision last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the president cannot use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs. The Impact: This effectively strikes down the "Liberation Day" tariffs and shields the economy from an estimated $1.4 trillion in future tax increases. For supply chain operators and importers, this is a massive sigh of relief—and it opens the door to a potential $175 billion in refunds for tariffs already illegally collected. The mechanics of those refunds are still unresolved, but if you've been paying these duties, call your customs broker immediately. Source: Tax Foundation
But just when importers were popping champagne over the Supreme Court ruling, the reality of 2026 trade policy hit back. Reuters reported that the administration is now moving to raise the baseline global tariff rate to 10-15%. While the SCOTUS ruling kneecapped the use of emergency powers (IEEPA) for targeted tariffs, this new global baseline threatens to raise costs across the board. If your 2026 margins weren't already stressed, they are now. Source: Reuters
The Reversal: TikTok Shop Walks Back Logistics Mandate
Just weeks after issuing an "ultimatum" to U.S. sellers to use its fulfillment services, TikTok Shop has blinked. In an email sent to merchants this week, the platform confirmed it is halting the plan to eliminate independent "Seller Shipping." The Context: The original policy, set to take effect Feb. 25, would have forced sellers to use TikTok’s "Fulfilled by TikTok" (FBT) or tightly integrated shipping options, effectively cutting out independent 3PLs. After massive backlash from brands (and realizing the operational chaos it would cause), they have paused the rollout indefinitely. For now, your current 3PL workflow is safe - but keep one eye open. Source: Modern Retail
The Great Network Contraction: FedEx & UPS Close Facilities
The era of endless capacity expansion is officially over. FedEx revealed that it expects to close over 475 stations by the end of 2027 as part of its "Network 2.0" overhaul - amounting to roughly 30% of its facility footprint. UPS is following suit, confirming it will shutter 22 Teamster-staffed facilities across 18 states this year as it cuts up to 30,000 operational positions to adjust to volume shifts. The Takeaway: Both carriers are aggressively shrinking their physical footprints to drive efficiency. Fewer nodes mean different routing, which will ultimately impact your transit times and pricing. Source: Supply Chain Dive (FedEx) / Supply Chain Dive (UPS)
Amazon & Shopify Now Control Half of U.S. E-Commerce
If you want to know where the gravity is in retail, look no further. A new report from Marketplace Pulse confirms that Amazon and Shopify combined now account for 50% of all U.S. e-commerce. As the market consolidates around these two behemoths, independent brands are realizing they have to play nice with the giants to survive. Source: Marketplace Pulse
eBay Buys Depop from Etsy for $1.2 Billion
The great recommerce reshuffle continues. Etsy is officially selling Gen-Z resale darling Depop to eBay for $1.2 billion in cash. Etsy originally bought Depop for $1.6B at the height of the 2021 pandemic boom, but the platform became an operational drag on their margins. For eBay, it's a massive play to capture younger buyers and reclaim the resale crown. Source: WSJ
Department of the Weird: Boneless Wings Are Legal In a victory for pub menus everywhere, a judge has officially dismissed a lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings, ruling that "boneless wings" do not constitute false advertising—even if they are just glorified chicken nuggets. First time, and likely the only time that B-Dubs will be mentioned in Sent Items. Source: WSJ
