Collective Horology sues Trump administration over latest tariffs

Collective Horology LLC, an independent watch retailer based in Ventura, California, filed a lawsuit in the United States Court of International Trade on July 24, alleging that President Donald Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer imposed unlawful tariff duties of 10% and 12.5% under Section 301 of the Trade Act. The company says the tariffs lack congressional approval, exceed presidential authority, and have caused severe negative impacts on its business, including more than $160,000 in duties already paid and anticipated imports worth about $69,000.

The suit also contends that the tariffs target goods from countries such as Switzerland on the basis of forced‑labor concerns, further harming the high‑horology sector. Collective Horology’s co‑founder and CEO Asher Rapkin noted that the lawsuit follows a Supreme Court ruling earlier in the year that found President Trump lacked authority for the initial round of tariffs, and represents a broader effort by small U.S. businesses to block the administration’s tariff regime.

The filing joins other small‑business challenges to the tariff policy, seeking judicial relief and a refund of duties that the plaintiffs claim were imposed unlawfully.