Trump Tariffs: US Refunds $100 Billion After Supreme Court Strikes Down Duties

The US administration has refunded around $100 billion in tariffs collected under President Donald Trump’s trade measures after the Supreme Court struck down the duties, according to a court filing.

 

The filing submitted by US Customs officials before the United States Court of International Trade stated that refunds, including duties and interest, had been completed through the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries Refund component. The refunds were certified by the agency and forwarded to the United States Department of the Treasury for disbursement.

 

The amount, recorded at the end of July, represents more than half of the approximately $166 billion collected through tariffs that were later invalidated by the Supreme Court of the United States.

 

Tariffs have been a key component of Trump’s foreign and trade policy agenda, despite criticism from economists, businesses and legal experts, as well as challenges in the courts.

 

However, the refund process has drawn criticism from some lawmakers who argue that the money is being returned to companies that imported the goods rather than directly benefiting American consumers.

 

“Trump is sending the ‘refunds’ to the companies, not working people. Every single cent of these refunds should go back to American consumers,” Democratic Congressman Greg Casar said.

 

The Supreme Court ruled on February 20 that most of Trump’s broad tariff measures were unlawful, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) did not give the President authority to impose sweeping tariffs on imports from trading partners without congressional approval.

 

Following the ruling, Trump intensified his trade measures, criticising the decision and introducing new temporary 10 per cent tariffs under a different legal authority. The administration also later announced additional global tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision designed to address unfair or discriminatory trade practices by foreign governments.

 

The latest court filing provides the first detailed update on the scale of refunds issued after the Supreme Court decision, while questions remain over the final distribution of the returned funds and the future direction of US tariff policy.