I sat down with Victor Owen Schwartz back in February 2022, and this episode originally aired on my birthday, June 30, 2022. In light of recent developments in the international wine trade, I thought this would be a great time to revisit this episode and reintroduce you to the man who fellow podcast Alum Lyle Fass has described as a true “Mensch."

Victor Schwartz, founder of VOS Selections, a small family-run wine importing company in New York, became the unlikely face of legal resistance against Trump's sweeping global tariffs. Schwartz runs the business alongside his daughter, Chloe, and imports wine, sake, and spirits from small-batch producers in countries such as France, Lebanon, and Japan. 

The Challenge: When Trump announced unprecedented global tariffs on almost all US trading partners, Schwartz described them as an "existential threat" to his small business. Unlike large corporations, small importers like VOS couldn't absorb the financial impact of sudden tariff increases.

The Legal Battle: Schwartz partnered with the Liberty Justice Center, a libertarian advocacy group, and agreed to serve as the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Trump's authority to impose the tariffs. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of VOS and four other small businesses.  VOS Selections: How a small, family-run wine company hit back against Donald Trump’s tariffs | CNN Business

The Victory: A three-judge panel at the US Court of International Trade struck down Trump's sweeping global tariffs, finding that Trump overstepped his authority by invoking emergency economic powers to impose tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico, and other US trading partners. Schwartz was cooking a pasta dinner when he received the winning news from his lawyers.

The Ongoing Fight: The Trump administration immediately appealed the ruling, and the case could end up in the Supreme Court. An appeals court granted the Trump administration's request to pause the lower court's ruling, meaning the legal battle continues. Schwartz's case represents a David-and-Goliath story where a small wine importer successfully challenged presidential trade policy, with implications for businesses and consumers worldwide.

A huge thank you to Victor O. Schwartz!

Check out his website: www.vosselections.com

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Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! 

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