In March, we sued the Administration over illegal tariffs on imports. Today we’re sharing big news: we won! This is a victory not just for Burlap & Barrel, but for all American small businesses. Here’s what it means and what comes next.
The Court of International Trade’s decision was specific: the Section 122 tariffs are illegal, though they haven’t been struck down nationwide. For now, the ruling only applies to us and our co-plaintiff from the lawsuit, the toy company BasicFun!. The Administration has already appealed, so the court case isn't over yet, but that’s exactly what we expected. Now the government has to make a case to overturn the ruling. This win sets an important precedent for other importers to challenge these unjust tariffs themselves.
We never expected to sue anyone when we started Burlap & Barrel, let alone the federal government. We took this stand because bigger companies weren’t willing to, and with the law on our side—and our legal partners at the non-profit Liberty Justice Center—we were able to fight back against overreach from an administration flush with resources. That’s a big victory for a little company like ours, and it says something great about our country that even the most powerful people can be challenged in court and held accountable.
When the tariffs were first announced last April, we made a promise: we wouldn’t pass the cost to our customers (that’s you!) or our partner farmers. We’re proud to say we’ve kept that promise. Whatever your politics, great spices are for everyone. We’re building a better food system that supports our partner farmers overseas and all kinds of cooks at home.
Many of our partner farmers grow spices on American soil, too. We love our Hatch Green Chilis from New Mexico and our Negi Scallions and Jimmy Nardello Pepper Flakes from New York. It’s currently the tail end of ramp season, so don’t sleep on our Wild Ramps from the Adirondack Mountains, sprouting underneath maple trees tapped for syrup. And our Salina Crystal Salt, made by a father-daughter duo in the “salt city” of Syracuse, is pristine, crunchy, and good to sprinkle on everything.
Every purchase of Burlap & Barrel spices helps us build a stronger social enterprise to shape what America stands for and how we as Americans show up in the world. We’re taking our win as a sign that we’re on the right track, and we hope you feel the same.
This October marks 10 years of that enterprise in action, and this gives us one more reason to celebrate. Thanks for supporting our mission. Lots more to come in the following weeks.
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