Trump appeals tariff refund order

President Donald Trump’s administration is trying to stop a court-ordered expansion of tariff refunds even as U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues sending money back to importers. The dispute centers on tariffs the Supreme Court said in February 2026 were imposed without proper authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. A federal judge later said refunds should not be limited to the companies that sued first. On May 29, the administration said it would appeal that order, opening a new phase in the fight over how much money importers can recover and who qualifies. ### Why is the administration appealing now? May 29 is the key date because that is when the administration said it intended to challenge a judge’s order allowing all companies that paid the invalidated duties to seek refunds, not only the original plaintiffs. TT News reported that the appeal could slow or halt the broader payout process. CBIZ said the order had created uncertainty because Customs had already begun issuing payments and processing claims. (ttnews.com) The Supreme Court’s February ruling is what set this off. CBIZ said the court held that tariffs imposed under IEEPA exceeded presidential authority, creating a path for importers to recover duties paid under those measures. SCOTUSblog described the next stage as a “brewing tariff refund battle,” with the focus shifting from whether the tariffs were lawful to how restitution should work. (ttnews.com) ### How much money is at stake for importers? U.S. Customs and Border Protection is “in the process of issuing more than $35.5 billion” to importers that successfully filed for refunds, according to a filing cited by SCOTUSblog. TT News separately reported that the administration had begun paying refunds tied to tariffs that the Supreme Court declared unlawful earlier this year. Up to $166 billion is the larger figure hanging over the case. (cbiz.com) CBIZ said Customs estimated potential refunds at that level, while TT News reported that the unlawful global tariffs at issue had generated claims on that scale. CBIZ also said the refund process includes interest. ### How are companies actually filing for refunds? April 20 is when Customs was scheduled to launch an online refund system for businesses seeking repayment, according to TT News. (scotusblog.com) CBIZ said the agency rolled out Phase 1 of a CAPE tool inside the Automated Commercial Environment Secure Data Portal to automate submissions, validate claims and issue refunds plus interest. U.S. importers still face practical limits even with that system in place. (cbiz.com) CBIZ said the opportunity is not automatic and that claims can be rejected, while TT News reported that a rapid filing wave followed the court rulings. That means the legal appeal and the administrative claims process are moving at the same time. ### What other tariff fights are unfolding at the same time? (ttnews.com) June 1 is the date Trump signed a proclamation revising tariff rules for steel, aluminum and copper imports. The White House said the changes were made under Section 232 and framed them as support for domestic production in strategic metals. A White House fact sheet said the changes are temporary and run through December 31, 2027. (cbiz.com) Section 122 is also under challenge in a separate line of litigation referenced in the source briefings. That means the refund fight is only one part of a broader court test of presidential tariff powers, while the administration continues to adjust other import duties through proclamations and trade authorities. This is an inference drawn from the parallel proceedings and White House actions described in the cited materials. (whitehouse.gov) ### What happens next for businesses waiting on money? Federal courts are the next stop because the administration’s appeal will determine whether refunds remain broadly available or are narrowed to companies already in the case. Customs, meanwhile, is still processing claims through its portal and paying approved refunds. December 31, 2027 is the end date the White House gave for its latest steel, aluminum and copper tariff adjustments. (whitehouse.gov) Before then, importers will be watching two tracks at once: the appeal over past refunds and the administration’s new tariff rules on current imports. (whitehouse.gov) (ttnews.com)