I spoke with Jon Melchi, CEO of the American Lighting Association, about the after-effects of the Feb. 20 Supreme Court tariff ruling (our conversation took place the day before the U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran).
“We advised membership that depending on which way the ruling went, there could be volatility afterwards,” said Melchi, noting that President Donald Trump’s 15% universal levy announced in the days after the ruling is indicative of that.
“In the short-term, there are obviously choppy waters to navigate. The greatest interest is in what the refund process will look like and what the timing would be.”
The refund process, should there be one, would vary by company, Melchi said, and depends on several factors, including how much would need to be invested in order to obtain one. “At every level, costs were absorbed. It will be a complicated process in terms of how companies obtain a refund.”
Some members might use a refund to hedge against a future tariff that comes in, said Melchi.
“Working capital was stripped from companies during duration of tariffs, and in many cases, it’s not just the money that was lost, it’s the opportunity cost that impacted many of our members over that time,” he added.
“Ultimately, we’re not looking at money that appears in the next six months. It would be great if I am incorrect. But it’s probably not something most of our members are counting on receiving in short term.
“For us, it’s going to be a lot of process education on both fronts.
“The quickest thing ideally to happen would be for Congress to bring clarity, but there is little to no chance of that happening right now.”
As the ALA noted in its blog post on the tariff ruling, several alternative methods to collect tariffs are still on the table. “I would think the Administration is going to look at every option. It’s very clear the President believes very strongly in this and will look at every avenue,” Melchi said. “There are more checkpoints to clear in some of these alternative options, and I expect there will be continued legal challenges on their implementation.”
In Washington, the ALA speaks to Congressional leaders and has maintained a dialogue with the Administration, Melchi said. “Our job is to work with decision makers and try to advocate the best we can for our members. We are focusing now on clarity around the refund process and what can be done to help improve the business climate for our members and this industry.”
Those members include several Canadian lighting showrooms and manufacturers who have been impacted in multiple ways. “We take that into account when making policy decisions,” Melchi noted.
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Danish design brand Audo Copenhagen has unveiled its spring décor collection, which includes lighting. Kenneth Bergenblad’s Wing Lamp, inspired by the wing of a bird in flight, has two variations: the floor lamp has been reintroduced with a new tilt mechanism for glare-free lighting. The Wing Wall Lamp shares the floor lamp’s pared-back form. Both come in either polished aluminum or brown bronzed aluminum and have a folded shade.
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Maxim Lighting is once again partnering with M/I Homes of Michigan as the lighting donor for the 2026 Pelotonia Benefit Home. The annual Benefit Home brings together builders and manufacturers to construct a home with 100% of proceeds benefiting Pelotonia and its mission to fund innovative cancer research. Construction on the 2026 home begins soon, with Maxim donating fixtures throughout the build.
“Pelotonia represents hope and action,” said Adena Sperling of Maxim Group Companies. “We’re honored to work side-by-side with M/I Homes of Michigan on a project that turns industry collaboration into real impact. When cancer affects someone in your own circle, you don’t look at giving back the same way. You show up, you stay involved, and you do what you can to help move research forward for the families who need it.”
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Lighting by Athens-based designer Chris Basias is now available exclusively at Lumens.com. Founded in 2012, Basias’ studio views light as both structure and sculpture, expressed through essential lines and refined materials like marble and stone. Highlights from the curated selection include the Helen LED Floor Lamp, Tria LED Floor Lamp and the Cube LED Table Lamp.
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Canadian design studio Bocci‘s lighting debut of the year is a new piece (and series) titled 93. Created by pouring molten aluminum into a heated glass vessel, 93 captures the traces left as metal moves, oxidizes, and cools within its container. The 93 is available as a pendant, surface mount, table lamp, or vase. The series is now available for purchase on Bocci.com.
