The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has started disbursing refunds for tariffs imposed during the Trump administration that the Supreme Court ruled unlawful earlier this year. Some importers have already received payments including interest, marking a significant development in a protracted legal battle over billions in global trade duties.
The refund process launched through a new online portal on April 20 has cleared about 1.74 million import entries for reimbursement. However, several million entries have been rejected due to validation issues, and Customs has yet to clarify timelines for refunds on more complex cases. Additional payments are scheduled to commence on May 7, with continued updates expected in the coming weeks.
These tariffs were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and involved roughly $166 billion collected from importers. While the Supreme Court ruled against the government’s authority to impose these tariffs, it did not settle the question of refunds at that time, leading to further litigation before the U.S. trade court in New York.
The government has not guaranteed full reimbursement of all tariffs paid but confirmed that interest will be paid on processed refunds. Customs and Treasury representatives have not commented publicly on the status or scope of the refund program beyond court filings. This initiative comes after hundreds of thousands of importers paid contested tariffs amid ongoing legal uncertainty, affecting supply chains and trade businesses nationwide.