Trump Administration Moves to Limit Access to Tariff Refunds as Appeal Looms

Businesses large and small have begun receiving tariff refunds after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling found that President Donald Trump lacked constitutional authority to impose broad import taxes on goods from nearly every country, Mae Anderson reported for The Associated Press (AP).

Importers have begun receiving tariff refunds following a Supreme Court ruling striking down broad import duties.

However, the refund process could soon slow or stall after the Trump administration said it plans to appeal a federal court order allowing all importers who paid the invalidated duties to seek refunds—not just companies that filed lawsuits.

Until the Justice Department notified the court of its intent to appeal, the refund system run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) had been operating relatively smoothly.

Refunds first reached importers’ bank accounts on May 12, about three weeks after companies and customs brokers began submitting claims.

As of May 22, CBP said it had accepted applications totaling about $85 billion for processing—more than half of the estimated $166 billion the government may owe importers, according to court filings.

CBP has already processed roughly $20.6 billion in repayments, according to filings submitted earlier this week.