Tariff Q&A with NAED Director of Government Relations, Bud DeFlaviis
tED magazine talks with NAED’s Director of Government Relations, Bud DeFlaviis, about why distributors usually do not have a direct claim to IEEPA tariff refunds, why unwinding tariff-driven price increases is so difficult, and how distributors can explain that reality to customers. tED Magazine: Bud, what is the biggest misunderstanding in the market right now about tariff refunds? Bud DeFlaviis: We hear a lot that since the IEEPA tariffs were struck down, everyone who absorbed higher prices will easily get money back. That’s not how this works. The Supreme Court’s February 20, 2026 ruling held that IEEPA did not authorize the broad reciprocal and drug-trafficking tariffs, and CBP (Customs and Border Protection) has launched its refund process using a tool called CAPE (Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries). But that government refund process is built around the importer of record — the party that paid Customs — not every company farther down the supply chain that later paid higher prices. tED Magazine: So who actually has the legal claim to a refund? Bud: In most cases, the importer of record does. tED Magazine: Are the tariffs gone? Are they coming back? Bud: The IEEPA tariffs are gone. However, other tariffs imposed under the Trump administration remain in effect and the President has signaled that he wants to continue to find mechanisms to impose additional tariffs. Tariff Q&A With NAED Director of Government Relations, Bud DeFlaviis – tEDmag
What if your most important tenants were not people but, well, crops? The coming of a new “vertical farm” industry is turning that unusual vision into reality. Vertical farms offer new, unique option for building owners looking for ‘tenants’. The multiple concerns with our global industrialized food system range from the existence of “food deserts” in which many people lack access to fresh, nutritious food to the increasing desire and market for food that is healthy, safe, high quality and free of harmful pesticides. The idea of bringing food production closer to its consumers is manifesting itself in the development of a new sector experimenting with how to turn buildings into indoor farms. 
The LEDucation Trade Show and Conference, organized by the Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY), concluded another successful event at the New York Hilton Midtown on April 14–15, 2026. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, LEDucation welcomed over 10,000 attendees and 565 exhibitors from around the globe, including a strong presence of new exhibitors, reinforcing its position as North America’s largest annual lighting industry gathering. Bringing together designers, manufacturers, educators, students, and industry professionals, LEDucation continues to serve as a vital platform for connection, discovery, and the exchange of ideas across the lighting community. Education remained a central pillar of LEDucation 2026, with a comprehensive program designed to address the evolving needs of the industry. LEDucation will return to the New York Hilton Midtown on April 13–15, 2027—expanding to a three-day format. For more information, visit 