Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce

IEEPA Tariffs Struck Down — Now What?

The Supreme Court ruled. The White House responded the same day. Here's what cross-border operators actually need to know.

The Supreme Court struck down IEEPA-based tariffs on a Friday afternoon — and the administration had a new executive order ready by the end of the day. So what does that mean for your shipments right now?

In this emergency Saturday episode of Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce, hosts Clint Reid, Founder and CEO of Zonos, and Aaron Bezzant, Zonos' Head of Global Trade Strategy, break down everything that happened in the last 24 hours. From why IEEPA tariffs are still being collected today to what Section 122 means for rates going forward, they cut through the noise so you know exactly what's changed — and what hasn't.

✅ What the Supreme Court ruling actually said (and what it didn't)
✅ Why IEEPA tariffs are still being collected despite the ruling
✅ The transition period: what we're waiting on from CBP
✅ Section 122 explained: the new legal basis for a 10% across-the-board rate
✅ De minimis suspension — still in place, and here's why
✅ What comes next: Sections 232, 301, and 338 as future tools
✅ Practical advice: should you hold shipments right now?

A lot changed yesterday. But a lot stayed the same, too — and knowing the difference matters.

CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction & why we're here on a Saturday
1:37 What the Supreme Court actually ruled
2:21 Non-postal e-commerce: what's happening for sellers under $800
3:40 Why IEEPA tariffs are still being collected today
4:26 The transition period & waiting on CBP guidance
5:40 What the new executive orders actually say
6:46 Section 122: the new tariff justification explained
7:47 Postal: what's changing (and what's staying the same)
9:10 Biggest misconceptions from the past 24 hours
10:24 Rates are changing — but maybe lower overall
12:03 What's next: Sections 232, 301, and 338
15:35 Practical advice: should you hold your shipments?
16:34 Wrap-up

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast dives deep into the chaos of 2025 and what lies ahead in 2026, including the potential end of IEEPA tariffs, the removal of de minimis, and a major Supreme Court decision that could reshape international trade policy.

Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy, is joined by longtime Zonos expert Ryan Swapp, Head of Global Trade Data, and Jeff Freeman, our resident “Wikipedia” of global trade. With Clint Reid out sick, the team breaks down what businesses need to know about upcoming changes and the ripple effects of executive trade authority under scrutiny.

🎧 Tune in for actionable insight into tariffs, refunds, Supreme Court bets, and what global ecommerce companies should expect in 2026.


Chapters:

[00:00:00] Opening clip  
[00:00:30] Aaron introduces holiday episode & guests Ryan Swap and Jeff Freeman  
[00:02:00] Reflecting on 2025: chaos, tariffs, and the rise of IEEPA tariffs 
[00:03:30] What is IEEPA? A historical and legal breakdown  
[00:05:00] Executive overreach? The Supreme Court's pending decision on IEEPA tariffs  
[00:06:30] The ripple effect: de minimis, tariffs, and tech adaptation  
[00:09:00] Ryan on adapting tech and retroactive chaos  
[00:13:00] Betting on the Supreme Court timeline  
[00:15:00] Will IEEPA tariffs be upheld or struck down? A legal debate  
[00:21:00] What happens if IEEPA tariffs are struck down? Refunds and fallback tools  
[00:26:00] Postal refunds: nearly impossible?  
[00:30:00] De minimis and the severability clause  
[00:33:00] Global trend: EU, UK, and others following the U.S.  
[00:35:00] What to expect from new clearance processes in 2026  
[00:36:30] Final thoughts: 2026 won’t be quiet

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast is hosted solo by Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy. He’s joined by Ned Steiner of Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, a leading customs and trade law firm.

Aaron and Ned dive into the rapidly shifting world of international trade — from new U.S. tariffs and executive orders to the real-world impacts on importers and e-commerce sellers.

If you’ve been trying to keep up with de minimis reform, trade enforcement, or customs compliance in the U.S., this episode is your inside look at what’s really happening in D.C. — and how to protect your business.

Episode 66 of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast explores how postal operators around the world can implement Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) solutions, with direct insight from David Avsec of the Universal Postal Union (UPU).

Hosts Clint Reid, Founder and CEO of Zonos, and Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy, discuss the technical and policy challenges around DDP in the postal network—especially with changes to global regulations and de minimis thresholds in the U.S. and EU.

They uncover the role of the UPU, the growing urgency for posts to offer DDP in order to stay competitive in ecommerce, and how the right technology and cooperation can make global DDP a scalable reality for posts of any size.

Whether you're a postal operator, ecommerce platform, or global merchant, this episode sheds light on the infrastructure being built to support DDP worldwide—and why it matters more than ever.


[00:00:00] Introductions and welcoming David from the UPU  
[00:01:50] Why UPU partnered with Zonos and the HS classification challenge  
[00:02:57] David’s 30-year history with UPU and postal technology  
[00:10:00] Why David came to St. George — urgency around U.S. regulatory changes  
[00:13:23] DDP vs DDU: The case for postal reform and better customer experience  
[00:17:02] Why DDP is now critical for posts and ecommerce competitiveness  
[00:20:24] Why posts should look at DDP as an exciting opportunity and not a burden
[00:28:26] Timeline and adoption challenges across global posts  
[00:32:05] Europe’s upcoming de minimis changes and global regulatory trends  
[00:34:37] Closing thoughts

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast is one you won’t forget. Clint Reid, Founder and CEO of Zonos, sits down with Igor Smelyansky, CEO of Ukrposhta (Ukraine Post), to talk about leading a national postal service during an active war—and still growing exports, launching banks and pharmacies, and maintaining ecommerce lifelines across borders.

Igor shares how his U.S. legal and business background helped Ukraine Post become the first to deliver under new U.S. de minimis rules, how they've helped over 45,000 SMEs keep shipping internationally, and how modern war forced them to digitize and automate at a rapid pace.

This episode is packed with resilience, logistics innovation, international trade strategy, and hard-earned leadership lessons from the frontlines.

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast is a must-listen for Australian ecommerce businesses.

As of August 29, de minimis is gone for postal shipments into the US — and Australia Post has partnered with Zonos to keep shipments moving. But what does that mean for Australian sellers?

Clint Reid, CEO and Founder of Zonos, and Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy, break it down:

- Why you got that email from Australia Post

- What the Zonos partnership means

- How to calculate and collect duties

- And how to keep shipping without friction

With tools available at no cost — and insights tailored for Aussie ecommerce — this episode is all about practical answers and immediate next steps.

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast dives into how global postal operators — from Canada Post to Royal Mail to Ukraine — raced to adapt to the sudden de minimis policy change from the U.S. that took effect on August 29.

Hosts Clint Reid, Founder and CEO of Zonos, and Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy, share behind-the-scenes stories of working with postal partners around the world to stand up solutions in just 30 days — and how Zonos’ technology became the backbone of compliance for many.

🔹 How Ukraine became one of the first to ship under the new rules
🔹 What Canada Post accomplished on an impossible timeline
🔹 How Zonos’ neutral, tech-driven approach enabled rapid scaling
🔹 And what this means for small businesses in these countries

Whether you’re in ecommerce or international logistics, this is a powerful case study in speed, collaboration, and execution under pressure.

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast breaks down what Canadian ecommerce businesses need to know now that de minimis is gone for postal shipments into the U.S.

Clint Reid, Founder and CEO of Zonos, and Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy, explain the August 29th change, what triggered it, how Canada Post and Zonos responded in just 30 days, and what Canadian businesses must do right now to stay compliant — and keep shipping.

If you ship to the U.S. from Canada, this episode is essential listening. From practical tools to collect duties, to how Canada Post customers are affected, to real examples of tariff cost differences — this one is packed with value.

🔹 Why are Canadian merchants now being asked to collect and remit duties?
🔹 What is Zonos' role in all this?
🔹 What’s the business impact and how do you adapt?
🔹 How does this affect retail customers at the post office counter?


All answered here.

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast is a detailed breakdown of the executive order that eliminates de minimis for all imports—postal and commercial—effective August 29th.

Clint Reid, Founder and CEO of Zonos, and Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy, have been in the room with policymakers in DC and are here to give context, clarity, and what it means for your business.

What changed? Who’s paying? What happens next? They unpack the policy, the enforcement challenges, and how global merchants and posts must adapt—fast. Whether you're a brand, carrier, or consolidator, you can’t afford to miss this one.

This episode of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast dives into the major changes coming from the recent executive order that removes de minimis treatment for most shipments—effective August 29th.

Hosts Clint Reid, Founder and CEO of Zonos, and Aaron Bezzant, Zonos’ Head of Global Trade Strategy, break down what this means for international shippers, postal carriers, and ecommerce businesses. It's fast, it's packed, and it's essential if you're moving goods into the U.S.

From new country of origin requirements to how duties must be paid—and by whom—this TLDDR (too long, didn’t deeply read) gives you the critical info without the fluff.

🔍 Don't miss the nuances. Watch the full episode for what matters most in the months ahead.