Federal court slams Trump's tariffs as unconstitutional

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Taking over from Jeff Bezos wasn’t just a new role for Amazon CEO Andy Jassy—it came with huge pressure and expectations. So, Jassy has three key reminders to help leaders stay sane amidst it all.

Some changes that will rock your sanity:

• Federal court rejects Trump’s tariffs ⚖️
• Your smartest move in 2025 🛒
• Amazon blocks message hack 🚫
• 7 WordPress tips to save sales 💻

HOT TOPIC

The U.S. Court of International Trade just slammed the brakes on most of Trump’s tariffs, calling them unconstitutional and a massive overreach of presidential power. 🛑

According to CBS News, the federal court ruled that Trump overstepped legal limits when he used emergency powers to slap 10% tariffs on goods from nearly every trading partner.

🔍 The court was clear

The court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) doesn’t give the president the right to reshape trade policy on a whim. 

• Tossed. Tariffs targeting China, Canada, and Mexico were also deemed invalid.
• Targeted tariffs fall flat. Tariffs tied to drug trafficking or immigration concerns failed to meet legal standards.
• Widespread agreement. A second judge in D.C. also ruled five of Trump’s executive orders invalid.

Now, they’re facing two major lawsuits. 

• One came from states, the other from small businesses arguing they were unfairly harmed. 
• Both cases won, and the court sided with plaintiffs who said the executive branch shouldn’t be able to unilaterally rewrite trade laws.

🚨 But it’s not over

For now, there’s no more tariff ping-pong. But as a seller, you need to keep tabs, stay flexible with sourcing, and be ready to pivot because… 😫

The Justice Department plans to appeal. If higher courts uphold the ruling, expect ripple effects across how future administrations approach trade and tariff policy.

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BITES OF THE WEEK

• Simplified Conversions: Google updated its Google Tag Manager (GTM) conversion tag allowing more control of user-provided data.
• Trump Tariff Tracker: Know which tariff policies have been imposed, threatened, paused, or removed with this tracker.
• Algorithm Convergence: AI is transforming search from simple data retrieval to analyzing and synthesizing thousands of results.
• Pressure on Perplexity: Perplexity opened its AI platform for ads but can it scale fast enough to meet demands?

AMAZON NEWS

Amazon shuts down '[Important]' seller message hack

Amazon has officially tightened the screws on how sellers can contact buyers—and not everyone's thrilled about it.

According to eCommerceBytes, the once-reliable “[Important]” subject line trick is officially dead. So how can you still get critical messages through?

🛑 No more “[Important]” 

• Before: Sellers could slip past buyer opt-outs by tagging messages with “[Important].”
• Now: If you want your message delivered, you’ll need to use Amazon’s official templates or API.

Why the change? Amazon says it’s about respecting buyer preferences and cracking down on abuse of the messaging system.

✉️ What counts as ‘Critical’ now?

Amazon defines critical and non-critical messages as:

• Critical: Anything necessary to complete an order, like confirming a custom detail, fixing an address, or flagging a delay.
• Non-critical: Promotions, thank-yous, and general follow-ups. If the buyer has opted out of non-essential messages, those won’t make it through. 

In short: say less, but say what matters.

📌 Seller silver linings

Yes, this feels like another restriction. But there are some upsides, including:

• Template perks: Order IDs are auto-included, translations are built in, and critical flags are applied properly.
• Less risk: Using official tools means fewer policy violations and better message delivery rates.
• Simpler routing: When tagged correctly, your messages get through—even with buyer opt-outs.

Some sellers say the new templates have actually solved long-standing communication issues. 

What’s been your experience with the update?

TACTIC TALKS

Avoid lost sales with these 7 WordPress tips

Your ecommerce site might look great, but is it converting? Between slow load times, clunky checkouts, and untrustworthy product pages, your store could be quietly leaking revenue every single day.

Elegant Themes dropped tips on how to plug those holes.

1. Product photos matter more than price. Clean, high-res product shots with white backgrounds and multiple angles help people buy faster and more confidently. 📸
2. Trust badges aren’t optional. Place security badges and verified logos near checkout and “Add to Cart” buttons to calm those last-minute doubts.
3. Mobile first or miss out. Thumb-friendly buttons, fast loading, and no-fuss checkout flows keep mobile users engaged and converting.
4. Popups, but not annoying ones. Wait at least 30 seconds, make the value clear (think: discount codes or size charts), and always include an easy close button. 💬
5. Streamline your checkout. Skip the unnecessary form questions, highlight PayPal and Apple Pay, and keep it all on one page if possible.
6. Speed is money. Run a performance check, optimize your images, and make site speed a top priority.

Your store doesn’t need a redesign. It needs better execution. These moves aren’t about guesswork—they’re proven to help visitors stick around, trust you, and click “Buy.”

Make the changes that matter. The rest is just noise. ⚡