IEEPA on Trial: What Ecommerce Tariffs Could Look Like in 2026 | Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce
The Zonos trade team breaks down the chaos of 2025 and what lies ahead in 2026 — IEEPA tariffs, de minimis, the Supreme Court, and how to prepare your ecommerce business.
In Episode 74 of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast, Aaron Bezzant, Zonos' Head of Global Trade Strategy, is joined by Ryan Swapp, Zonos' Head of Global Trade Data, and Jeff Freeman, Zonos' in-house global trade expert, for a deep-dive year-end episode on everything that shook up international trade in 2025 — and what's coming in 2026.
With Clint Reid out sick, the team breaks down the chaos of IEEPA tariffs, the removal of de minimis, and the Supreme Court case that could reshape executive trade authority. Tune in for actionable insight into tariffs, potential refunds, Supreme Court scenarios, and what global ecommerce companies should expect in the year ahead.
What you'll learn:
What IEEPA is and why it became central to U.S. trade policy in 2025
Whether the Supreme Court will uphold or strike down IEEPA tariffs — and what each outcome means
What happens to tariff refunds if IEEPA is struck down
How de minimis removal and tariff changes are forcing tech adaptation
What global ecommerce businesses should prepare for in 2026
Chapters
0:00 Opening clip
0:30 Aaron introduces the holiday episode and guests Ryan Swapp and Jeff Freeman
2:00 Reflecting on 2025: chaos, tariffs, and the rise of IEEPA
3:30 What is IEEPA? A historical and legal breakdown
5:00 Executive overreach? The Supreme Court's pending decision
6:30 The ripple effect: de minimis, tariffs, and tech adaptation
9:00 Ryan on adapting Zonos tech and retroactive chaos
13:00 Betting on the Supreme Court timeline
15:00 Will IEEPA tariffs be upheld or struck down? A legal debate
21:00 What happens if IEEPA tariffs are struck down? Refunds and fallback tools
26:00 Postal refunds: nearly impossible?
30:00 De minimis and the severability clause
33:00 Global trend: EU, UK, and others following the U.S.
35:00 What to expect from new clearance processes in 2026
In Episode 74 of the Decoding Cross-Border Ecommerce podcast, Aaron Bezzant, Zonos' Head of Global Trade Strategy, is joined by Ryan Swapp, Zonos' Head of Global Trade Data, and Jeff Freeman, Zonos' in-house global trade expert, for a deep-dive year-end episode on everything that shook up international trade in 2025 — and what's coming in 2026.
With Clint Reid out sick, the team breaks down the chaos of IEEPA tariffs, the removal of de minimis, and the Supreme Court case that could reshape executive trade authority. Tune in for actionable insight into tariffs, potential refunds, Supreme Court scenarios, and what global ecommerce companies should expect in the year ahead.
What you'll learn:
Chapters
Resources