Walmart, Home Depot, Target seek tariff refunds

Walmart, Home Depot and Target have applied for refunds tied to tariffs imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a CNBC report published on May 22. The claims are part of a broader push by importers to recover money after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing some tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. CNBC reported that the government could owe roughly $166 billion in refunds overall. Walmart told CNBC it would use any refunded money to invest in lower prices for shoppers. ### Which tariffs are these companies trying to recover? The February 20 Supreme Court ruling found that Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose broad tariffs was unconstitutional, CNBC reported in earlier coverage. That decision set off a process for companies to seek repayment of duties they had already paid on imported goods. CNBC reported on May 22 that Walmart, Home Depot and Target are among the companies that have now filed for those refunds. The report said Customs and Border Protection disclosed in a court filing earlier this month that the government owes about $166 billion in refunds overall. ### Why are Walmart, Home Depot and Target involved? Walmart, Home Depot and Target all sell large volumes of imported merchandise, making them among the retailers most exposed to import duties. (cnbc.com) CNBC reported in April that Citi estimated Walmart could be due about $10.2 billion, while Target could be due about $2.2 billion. That earlier report did not list an estimate for Home Depot in the excerpt available through search results, but it identified major retailers as some of the biggest potential beneficiaries. (cnbc.com) CNBC also reported in April that the refund system would be phased in, with more recent tariff payments processed first. Trade lawyers told CNBC at the time that companies expected the process to be difficult and potentially slow. ### What did Walmart say it would do with the money? Walmart confirmed to CNBC that it had sought a refund and said it planned to use any money it receives to invest in lower prices for shoppers. (cnbc.com) CNBC’s May 22 report singled out Walmart’s statement as a public commitment on how it would use any repayment. A CNBC CFO Council survey published on April 13 had found that most chief financial officers did not expect tariff refunds to be passed on to consumers. (cnbc.com) That made Walmart’s statement notable in the context of broader corporate responses documented by CNBC. ### When did companies start filing and getting paid? U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened its online claims portal on April 20 at 8 a.m., CNBC reported, allowing importers and customs brokers to begin submitting refund requests. (cnbc.com) The agency said it expected to process claims in phases. CNBC reported on May 12 that the first wave of refunds had already begun flowing, with Oshkosh Corporation saying it had started receiving payments though it had not yet verified its total amount. (cnbc.com) President Trump said that day he would “fight” having to pay the tariffs back, according to CNBC. ### What happens next for these retailers? Customs and Border Protection is administering the claims through its CAPE portal, CNBC reported, and any payments to retailers such as Walmart, Home Depot and Target will depend on how those claims are processed. (cnbc.com) CNBC has reported that legal and procedural disputes could still delay or complicate payouts even after the Supreme Court ruling. (cnbc.com) The next public markers are likely to come from company disclosures, court filings or CBP updates on claims processing. Walmart, Home Depot and Target were listed by CNBC on May 22 as applicants in that system. (cnbc.com 1) (cnbc.com 2)