Every year, from approximately mid-November into the first week or so of January, getting meaningful work done can be a challenge. At best, folks are distracted by all the plans that typically accompany the holiday season. At worst, they've already checked out mentally, even if they're still physically showing up.
Now, that's not to say that greatness can't come during this time; it absolutely can. Only that it's a bit of an uphill battle, because so many distractions are waiting for you around virtually every turn. And yet, while some businesses tend to pull back a little during this time, secure in the knowledge that at least we're all a bit scatterbrained as a culture right now, others keep battling through anyway.
Take, for example, the US Court of International Trade. While the massive tariffs case involving both Kawasaki and Costco is ongoing, even despite the denial of the plaintiffs' motion for a preliminary injunction, you might have thought they'd take a break for the holidays. Even a small one, really.
But no! Because on December 22, 2025, a fourth motion was filed to consolidate similar cases against the IEEPA tariffs. As you may recall, the reason Kawasaki and Costco are even under the same umbrella is because over 100 companies have already joined together through the three previous consolidation motions that have been filed. And now, there are even more, including some names you'll probably recognize.
The niches run the gamut of product categories: Marathon Petroleum, Lavazza North America, Manscaped (yes, the razor folks you hear on all the podcasts), Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Newegg (the computer people), Family Dollar, Bimbo Bakeries, Breville, Logitech, Barnes & Noble Purchasing, Toyo Tire North America, Specialized Bicycle Components, and plenty more.
You read that correctly. So far, that's four separate motions to consolidate a slew of over 100 separate but substantially similar cases that businesses have brought against the US CBP over the imposition of these tariffs. It's difficult not to contemplate how many more motions to consolidate (and how many additional companies) might be in the works at this exact moment.
Not So Fast With The Consolidation Motions, Says The Court
On December 23, 2025 (Christmas Eve eve, if you will), the US Court of International Trade ordered a stay on this case, in order "to facilitate the administration of new cases that continue to be filed challenging the imposition of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)."
Now, I'm certainly no lawyer, nor a legal scholar. If you're not, either, then you may be interested to note that Cornell University's Legal Information Institute defines a stay as "an action taken by a court to stop a legal proceeding or the actions of a party." It goes on to say that these actions are "normally only temporary," and adds that "a court will do this for many reasons such as if there is another proceeding occurring that will affect the present one or if a party must do something before the proceeding can continue."
And sure enough, the order for the stay in this case spells out why it's being issued. As you may recall if you've been paying attention to the ongoing US tariffs drama, one of the two tariffs-related cases that the US Supreme Court has agreed to hear is V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. United States.
This decision by the Supreme Court to hear that case came after the CIT had issued a judgement in favor of V.O.S. Selections, Inc., finding that IEEPA did not authorize worldwide tariffs. The US government then appealed the case, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that injunction pending the appeal. But then, the Federal Circuit agreed with the CIT's decision, which in turn prompted the US government to request that the Supreme Court review the Federal Circuit's decision "on an expedited basis," according to the official US Congressional overview on these cases.
Flashing forward to the present, the US Court of International Trade has stayed this current, massive case that over 100 different plaintiffs have now joined until "a final, unappealable decision in V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. United States" is issued by the Supreme Court.
The reason? According to the Court, following such a decision by the Supreme Court, the CIT will then be able to "determine the appropriate next steps for resolution of the new IEEPA tariff cases."
What happens next? The Supreme Court heard arguments in the V.O.S. Selections, Inc. case on November 5, 2025, but has not yet issued an opinion.
It's unclear at this point when that opinion will be made public. However, since I'm writing this on December 30, 2025, it seems safe to surmise that we shouldn't expect an answer before the dawn of 2026. In any case, though, I'll be sure to keep you updated with any and all updates that arise.
