US tariff refund system to be ready in 45 days, after Trump duties struck down

Following the Supreme Court's ruling against President Trump's tariffs, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is developing a system to refund approximately $166 billion in tariff payments to around 330,000 importers. A CBP official stated in a court filing that the new refund process will be ready within 45 days and require minimal input from importers. The US Court of International Trade is overseeing the refund process, with Judge Richard Eaton initially ordering immediate compliance but later amending the order to allow CBP time to implement the new system. The court is working with government lawyers to establish a broad settlement process for the refunds after the tariffs were deemed unconstitutional. The goal is to create an efficient and accessible system for importers to reclaim the tariff payments.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on March 6, 2026, that it needs 45 more days to establish a system for refunding approximately $166 billion in tariffs to over 330,000 importers. This follows a Supreme Court decision in February that deemed President Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for imposing tariffs illegal. Judge Richard Eaton from the US Court of International Trade had ruled that the government owes refunds with interest. CBP states that reprogramming its record system to automate the refund process is necessary due to the large volume of entries, saving an estimated four million hours of manual labor. The delay means importers will not receive automatic tariff refunds as initially proposed.

A US judge will meet with government lawyers to discuss the process of refunding up to $175 billion in illegal tariffs collected from over 300,000 importers during the Trump administration. The meeting, scheduled for Friday, follows a Supreme Court ruling that deemed the tariffs unlawful. Judge Richard Eaton instructed Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to begin issuing refunds with interest, utilizing existing systems already in place for overpayment corrections. The order came in response to a case brought by Atmus Filtration, which paid $11 million in illegal tariffs, and this case may serve as a model for broader refunds. The court aims to establish an efficient and organized system for repaying importers affected by the tariffs.

In March 2026, 24 US states, led by Democratic states like New York and California, sued the Trump administration over newly imposed 10% global tariffs. The lawsuit, filed in the US Court of International Trade, challenges the legality of the tariffs, arguing that President Trump is circumventing a recent Supreme Court ruling that invalidated his previous tariffs. Trump imposed the new tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, claiming they are necessary to reduce US trade deficits. The states contend that Section 122, which allows tariffs for short-term monetary emergencies, is being misapplied to address trade deficits, which occur when a nation imports more than it exports. They also argue that the law was intended to address archaic monetary risks, not routine trade imbalances.

Twenty-four US states, led by New York and California, are suing the Trump administration over newly imposed 10% global tariffs. The lawsuit, to be filed in the US Court of International Trade in New York, challenges the legality of the tariffs, arguing they circumvent a recent Supreme Court ruling that invalidated previous tariffs. The states contend that Trump is misusing the Trade Act of 1974, which is intended for short-term monetary emergencies, not ongoing trade deficits. They argue that the tariffs, imposed via executive order on February 20th, exceed presidential authority and should be repealed. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated the tariffs may increase to 15% later in the week.

More than 20 states are suing the Trump administration over newly imposed global tariffs. The lawsuit, led by attorneys general from Oregon, Arizona, California, and New York, challenges the legality of the tariffs, arguing that President Trump is exceeding his authority. The tariffs, set at 15%, were implemented under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court rejected previous tariffs imposed under emergency powers. Trump claims the tariffs are necessary to reduce America's trade deficits. Section 122 allows the president to impose tariffs for up to five months unless Congress extends them.