The US government is refusing to return to companies the tariffs that the Supreme Court declared illegal last monththe Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Customs officials are denying companies’ requests to recoup tariffs imposed under emergency powers invoked by President Donald Trump, generating uncertainty among companies and causing more disputes in the courtsaccording to the FT.
The US government collected more than $130 billion in illegal tariff payments, which were central to Trump’s trade policy. The Supreme Court provided no guidance for issuing refunds, leading to confusion over how importers would be refunded.
On Wednesday, a U.S. trade court judge ordered the government to begin paying potentially billions of dollars in refunds to importers who paid tariffs.
Many companies have rushed to submit corrections to remove tariff codes from the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of shipping entries and request refunds, but Customs and Border Protection has been rejecting those requests and suspending protests filed to obtain the refund of levies that had already been settled, according to the FT.
Reuters could not immediately verify the information. The White House and the customs authority did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
