OPB’s First Look: Oregon firms face uncertainty after tariff overturn

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Good morning, Northwest.

This morning, President Donald Trump said he is going to raise global tariff to 15%, up from 10%, after the Supreme Court struck down some of his tariffs yesterday.

Meanwhile, uncertainty remains for businesses in Oregon as they wait to learn when — and if — they will be refunded for the billions of dollars they collectively paid in tariffs.

OPB reporter Kyra Buckley spoke with several Oregon businesses to hear how they’re navigating the ongoing uncertainty.

Plus, as the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics come to an end tomorrow, OPB’s Jen Baires, Lillian Karabaic and Joni Auden Land share stories of winter fun from Bend to Portland.

Here’s your First Look at Saturday’s news.

— Winston Szeto

Oregon businesses still in tariff limbo after Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s sweeping import taxes

The Supreme Court struck down some of President Donald Trump’s most far-reaching global tariffs yesterday, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda.

The 6-3 decision centers on tariffs imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country starting last April.

It’s the first major piece of Trump’s agenda to come before the nation’s highest court, which he helped shape with the appointments of three conservative jurists in his first term.

Trump is vowing to use other tools to assert his trade agenda, including imposing a temporary import tax starting Tuesday, according to a proclamation signed late yesterday.

The Oregon Department of Justice led a coalition of a dozen states that sued over the president’s signature trade strategy. (Lindsay Whitehurst and Kyra Buckley)

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3 things to know this morning

• A 25-year-old protester pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer during a “No Kings” protest last June 14 in Portland. The incident is one of the more serious criminal charges connected to protests outside the Portland ICE building. (Conrad Wilson) 
• Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced yesterday she’s requested a major disaster declaration from the White House for several Oregon counties still recovering from damage caused by severe weather in December. (Amanda Linares) 
• In the latest chapter of Oregon’s public defense crisis saga, a Clackamas County judge ruled yesterday that attorneys at two nonprofit public defense organizations don’t need to take cases that would stretch them beyond their capacity. (Holly Bartholomew)

‘Think Out Loud’ LIVE: Dating, Decoded

Curious about Oregon’s dating scene? We’ll get to the heart of it all in this special live taping of OPB’s “Think Out Loud” on March 5 at the Revolution Hall Showbar in Portland. Join host Dave Miller in conversation with guests and experts as they wade through Oregon’s current dating scene – including the joys, complexities and quirkiness that make it so very Oregonian.

Learn more and register at opb.org/revhall

Headlines from around the Northwest

• Portland Councilor Loretta Smith reverses plan to introduce open carry policy (Alex Zielinski) 
• White House pressure leads UO, other universities to cut ties with nonprofit that helps students of color (Tiffany Camhi) 
• PacifiCorp reaches $575M settlement with feds over 2020 wildfires (April Ehrlich) 
• Court date set for Longview students arrested on rape-related charges (Courtney Sherwood) 
• Nuggets rout Trail Blazers 157-103 for the most points on the road in franchise history (Erik García Gundersen)

Sweepers and slapshots: Winter fun from Bend to Portland

• The U.S. women’s curling team made Olympic history Feb. 13 when they defeated the top-ranked Canadian team. Bend curling enthusiasts are parlaying some of the international spotlight into fundraising for what could become one of Oregon’s only facilities just for curling. (Jen Baires) 
• In Beaverton, one local league has been building an inclusive version of hockey for years — and organizers say they’re always ready to welcome new players after the sport’s recent surge in popularity due to the Winter Olympics and Canadian TV series “Heated Rivalry.” (Lillian Karabaic) 
• More than 3,000 people have signed a petition demanding an ice rink remain at the site of Northeast Portland’s Lloyd Center, even after the dilapidated mall is demolished later this year. (Joni Auden Land)

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