In a blow to the Trump administration, it has refunded about $100 billion in tariffs collected under President Donald Trump’s “liberation day” trade measures after the U.S. Supreme Court decided the regime could not rely on emergency economic powers to enforce the duties.
On Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection told the U.S. Court of International Trade that it has paid back about 60% of the $165 billion garnered under the tariffs, The Financial Times reported Wednesday.
According to a story by Newsmax, the revelation came after the Supreme Court in February upheld a lower court ruling barring the administration from using emergency authorities to levy the duties, triggering an order requiring CBP to process refunds.
In addition, the agency added that more than $128 billion in refund claims have been accepted for processing, denoting that additional payments are expected.
Trump has blasted the Supreme Court’s decision, saying last month on Truth Social that the ruling cost the United States “TRILLIONS AND TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS” by invalidating the tariffs.
The tempo of the refunds has surprised some trade attorneys and analysts, especially after administration officials suggested the process could take years.
Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary said in February that any payouts would likely be delayed by continued litigation, adding that if refunds were ultimately required, they would amount to “the ultimate corporate welfare.”
Some lawmakers have criticized how the refunds are being distributed.
Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, said the money is being returned to import companies rather than consumers who ultimately paid higher prices.
“Trump is sending the ‘refunds’ to the companies, not working people,” Casar said. “Every single cent of these refunds should go back to American consumers.”
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