Pensacola, Florida For the past 17 years, entrepreneur Emily Ley has diligently built her small stationery business, Simplified, which is headquartered in the sunny coastal city of Pensacola, Florida. Known for its stylish planners and organizational tools, her company caters specifically to American shoppers, yet the production takes place overseas in China.

Despite her desire to manufacture these products domestically, Ley expressed a significant challenge: the current infrastructure and supply chain capabilities in the U.S. simply do not support such operations. In an interview with CBS News, she stated, "I would love to make them here, but the U.S. simply doesn't have the infrastructure or the supply chain to do it."

Recently, Ley's business has been affected by a new wave of exceptionally high tariffs imposed on imports, which has raised costs significantly for small enterprises. Ley shared her concern about the lack of resources available to smaller businesses compared to their larger counterparts, saying, "We don't have the same options as large businesses. We don't have the same capital or ability to pivot."

These tariff increases come on the heels of President Donald Trump's decision to raise tariffs on Chinese goods, which culminated in staggering rates of up to 145%. In response to this financial strain, Ley, with legal assistance from the New Civil Liberties Alliancea nonpartisan organizationfiled a federal lawsuit against President Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pete Flores. The lawsuit claims that the administration's use of emergency powers to enforce such steep tariffs is illegal and bypasses Congressional approval.

Ley articulated her frustration, noting that the lack of Congressional debate prevented her, and many others, from voicing their opinions on the matter. "Had (Congress) had a chance to debate, discuss, vote, be involved, I would've then had the opportunity to make my voice heard," she explained, emphasizing the importance of representation in decisions that directly impact small business owners across the country.

Determined to fight for her business, Ley declared, "If this is the end of my American dream, I'm gonna go down swinging." However, she expressed considerable concern over the long-term viability of her company under the weight of these tariffs. While the administration argues that the tariffs are a necessary short-term pain for a long-term gain, Ley disputes that claim, saying, "We can't survive the short-term pain, and especially without any sort of plan in place to create the infrastructure here...It would take years and millions and millions of dollars to build such a thing that's been built overseas over decades."

To illustrate the financial burden, Ley revealed that her business has already paid nearly $1.2 million in tariffs since President Trump took office. With the new tariffs enacted, she anticipates incurring an additional $830,000 to $1 million in payments this year alone. While the White House has provided exemptions for large Chinese manufacturers producing electronics, Ley's small business is left to bear the brunt of these costs.

To offset the impact of the tariffs, Ley would need to raise the price of her popular $64 signature planner to $82 merely to cover the cost of the tariffs. To maintain profitability, however, she would find herself compelled to raise prices to nearly $120. "I'm not paying $120 for a planner," Ley remarked, pointing out that her loyal customers might not tolerate such a steep increase.

Beyond the financial implications, Ley's business also supports eight other women who depend on their jobs at Simplified. Faced with the possibility of needing to reduce salaries or even eliminate positions, Ley expressed deep regret over the potential impact on her employees. "I really dont want to do that," she shared, highlighting the emotional toll such decisions would take.

One of the core issues Ley faces is the unique manufacturing ecosystem that exists in China. The various components of her planners are produced in multiple factories located in close proximity within the Shenzhen region. This not only allows for higher quality products but also makes the final pricing more competitive. However, duplicating this complex supply chain in the U.S. is a daunting challenge.

In light of Ley's lawsuit, a spokesperson from the White House, Harrison Fields, responded to CBS News, asserting that the president possesses broad authority to impose tariffs to address national emergencies such as the opioid epidemic. Fields expressed confidence in a favorable outcome of the legal proceedings.

Amid these uncertainties, Ley remains resolute, declaring, "That's what's terrifying. It's just not sustainable. And it's truly catastrophic to so many businesses, big and small alike. But I really think small businesses are gonna be the casualty of this trade war."