Victor Schwartz, owner of New York-based wine importing firm VOS Selections, is the small business owner who emerged as the unlikely face of the legal battle that led to the Supreme Court of the United States striking down US President Donald Trump’s sweeping emergency tariffs.
Schwartz runs a family-owned wine import company that sources wines and spirits from 16 countries. His business, like many small importers, was heavily affected by Trump’s tariffs, which sharply increased costs and forced repeated pricing revisions.
Initially hesitant to step forward, Schwartz agreed to become the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed in April 2025 by the Liberty Justice Center, which represented several small businesses challenging the tariffs.
He later described himself as the “last line of defence” against what he believed was an overreach of presidential authority.
How tariffs hit his business
Schwartz said the tariffs created severe uncertainty for his company. Since April 2025, he estimates VOS Selections paid at least six figures in tariffs.
“The economic environment… is very unhealthy. We had to go through every item in our book at least four times,” he said, noting that unlike large corporations, small firms cannot easily absorb such costs.
Victory with national impact
In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court held that Trump exceeded his powers by imposing tariffs under emergency law. The decision could lead to refund claims worth over USD 134 billion for importers across the US.
Schwartz said he was proud to take the risk, even though he faced threats and pressure during the legal fight. His victory not only protected his own business but also benefited companies of all sizes across the country.
