Trump administration refunds nearly $100 billion in tariffs following Court ruling

Following a US Supreme Court ruling that struck down a major portion of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under emergency powers, roughly $100 billion has been refunded to importers. According to US customs authority data, although a total of about $128.68 billion is owed in refunds, more than three-quarters of that amount has already been paid.

In February this year, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Donald Trump had exceeded his legal authority in imposing tariffs on goods from various countries using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977. Under this law, additional tariffs had been imposed on more than 90 countries, including Canada, Mexico, and China.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated in documents submitted to the court that the tariff refund process is ongoing, with payments being made through the Treasury Department. Prior to the court ruling, the Trump administration had collected approximately $166 billion in these tariffs.

However, the Supreme Court's ruling left in place tariffs imposed under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 on specific industry sectors, including steel, automobiles, and copper. The Court of International Trade subsequently ordered that the money from the invalidated tariffs be refunded to the affected companies.

Meanwhile, even after the court's decision, the Trump administration has continued efforts to impose new tariffs using other legal provisions. Last month, new tariffs ranging from 10 to 12.5 percent were imposed on goods from 60 countries over allegations of failing to take adequate measures against the import of goods produced through forced labor. Bangladesh is on this list as well, with an additional 10 percent tariff imposed on its goods.

Most recently, 25 US states have filed lawsuits against these new tariffs. They allege that the Trump administration, citing a different legal basis, is effectively attempting to reimpose the same kind of tariffs that the Supreme Court had struck down.