Trending Now - Trade Court Rules Companies Eligible for Trump Tariff Refunds

WHO:

Judge Richard Eaton, U.S. Court of International Trade

President Trump

Atmus Filtration, a Nashville, Tennessee company

Dan Anthony, executive director of We Pay the Tariffs

Ryan Majerus, trade lawyer at King & Spalding

Alexis Early, trade lawyer at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Major corporations including Bausch & Lomb, Dyson, FedEx, and L'Oreal

WHAT:

A trade court ruled that U.S. companies are entitled to refunds for tariffs invalidated by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled on February 20, 2026, that President Trump lacked the authority to impose certain tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

The U.S. government could owe as much as $175 billion in refunds to businesses that paid IEEPA levies.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection collected $134 billion in duties under IEEPA through the end of 2025.

Judge Eaton stated he will hear cases related to the refund of IEEPA tariffs.

WHERE:

U.S. Court of International Trade, New York

Nashville, Tennessee

WHEN:

Supreme Court decision on February 20, 2026

Judge Eaton's ruling on March 4, 2026

Federal appeals court ruling on March 1, 2026

WHY:

The ruling follows the Supreme Court's decision that invalidated the tariffs imposed by President Trump, allowing businesses to claim refunds.

HOW:

The U.S. Customs agency must develop a process to handle the refunds, which is complicated as their system was not designed for mass refunds.

Trade experts anticipate the government may appeal or seek a stay to delay compliance with the refund process.

QUOTES:

Dan Anthony stated, "This is a victory for small businesses who have paid billions in unlawful tariffs and deserve their money back."

Ryan Majerus expressed expectations that the government would appeal or seek a stay for compliance.

Alexis Early noted, "The devil will be in the details of the administrative process."

In a significant ruling on March 4, 2026, Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade determined that U.S. companies, including major corporations like FedEx and L'Oreal, are entitled to refunds for tariffs that were invalidated by the Supreme Court's decision on February 20, which stated that President Trump lacked the authority to impose certain tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The U.S. government could be facing up to $175 billion in refunds, and while U.S. Customs and Border Protection collected $134 billion in duties under IEEPA through the end of 2025, the agency will need to develop a complicated process for handling these refunds. Dan Anthony, executive director of We Pay the Tariffs, called it a victory for small businesses, while trade lawyer Ryan Majerus expressed expectations that the government might appeal or seek a stay on the compliance process.