Tariff refunds could take years amid US Supreme Court ruling, experts warn

Al JazeeraEN 5 min read 100% complete by Andy HirschfeldFebruary 20, 2026 at 09:19 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

The US Supreme Court ruled against President Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose global tariffs, leaving the refund process for approximately $175 billion in collected tariffs uncertain. The case returns to the Court of International Trade to oversee refunds, with over 1,000 lawsuits already filed by importers. Experts predict the government will likely require individual refund applications, potentially burdening smaller businesses due to the costs and time involved in navigating the procedures. Legal experts anticipate procedural delays and a lengthy refund process, potentially taking years to resolve. Larger companies are expected to be better equipped to navigate the process than smaller importers.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Al Jazeera 30% Venezuela 30% Argentina 30% Georgetown University 35% Greg Shaffer 40% Brett Kavanaugh 50% John Roberts 60% Court of International Trade 65% International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) ×275% United States ×280% United States Supreme Court ×285% Donald Trump ×490%

Keywords

tariff refunds 100% us supreme court 80% global tariffs 70% international emergency economic powers act (ieepa) 60% small businesses 60% trade court 50% importers 50% refund process 40% legal experts 40%