Recent tariff decisions, appeals have no immediate effect on vision industry, The Vision Council reports

The Trump administration has filed a notice of appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit preceded the court reinstating the tariffs during the appeals process. Image credit: AdobeStock/FengYu

In light of the recent US Court of International Trade (CIT) decision to permanently prohibit all tariffs imposed by President Donald J. Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), The Vision Council weighed in to assess what the decision means for the vision industry.¹

With the decision made on May 28, the CIT has given the federal government 10 days to implement a process to halt the collection of IEEPA-related duties, according to a news release. This includes the 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, the 20% tariff on goods from China, and reciprocal tariffs set at 10% that are scheduled to increase to higher, country-specific rates in July of this year.¹

In response to the ruling and an appeal submitted by the Trump administration, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a temporary stay on May 29, which allows the continued collection of the tariffs as the government moves through the appeal process.²

“Fluctuating trade policies create real uncertainty for businesses across the vision industry, and we understand how challenging that can be,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council, in the release. “We remain committed to keeping our members informed, supported, and prepared to adapt. Our team is actively monitoring the ongoing legal developments, and we will continue to provide timely updates and resources. We encourage members to reach out to our Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs teams for guidance on how this ruling may affect their operations and supply chains.”

The CIT ruling, therefore, prohibits further collection of the tariffs unless a stay is granted. Although the decision does not mandate funds for duties previously paid, a means for refunds may be possible once the decision is final.¹

In response to the CIT decision, the Trump administration had filed a notice of appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and is expected to seek a stay of execution. The appeal has the potential to see the US Supreme Court during the appeal process.¹

Currently, all previously established duties remain in effect for the next 10 days as of May 28. An additional note from The Vision Council is that the decision does not impact Section 301 on Chinese goods, which are currently enforced under a separate statutory authority and are currently involved in a separate legal appeal. The CIT decision also does not impact the Section 232 duties on steel or aluminum, or automobiles and their parts.¹

Since there is no immediate change to the collection of IEEPA duties, The Vision Council’s Tariff Dashboard will not reflect changes for the tariffs until there are further updates.¹

Reference:

1. US Court of International Trade strikes down IEEPA tariffs: What this means for the vision industry. News release. The Vision Council. May 29, 2025. Accessed May 30, 2025.

2. Federal appeals court temporarily reinstates IEEPA tariffs amid ongoing legal proceedings. News release. The Vision Council. May 30, 2025. Accessed May 30, 2025.