Dispute Arises Over Tariff Refund Eligibility Amid System Changes
WHO:
ABC News - U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency official, Judge Richard Eaton, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, Susan Thomas (executive assistant commissioner for trade), Justice Department lawyers, five companies involved in the lawsuit.
Alternet - President Donald Trump, anonymous former Trump administration official, James Kim (international trade partner at ArentFox Schiff), Matthew Seligman (founder of Grayhawk Law).
WHAT:
CNBC - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has accepted and started processing claims for nearly $90 billion in refunds of what it estimates could be up to $127 billion in so-called Phase 1 refunds.
CNBC - The CBP reported that $22 billion in refunds have been completed and sent to the Treasury Department for distribution to importers.
ABC News - Judge Richard Eaton stated he is holding the hearing to ascertain if it is the government's policy to return all unlawfully collected duties either by complying with the court’s order or by some other means.
ABC News - A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency official is set to testify in federal court about the U.S. government's plans for refunding billions of dollars in tariffs.
ABC News - The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump illegally imposed certain tariffs on goods from most other countries.
ABC News - The Justice Department argued that only companies involved in over 2,500 lawsuits challenging the tariffs are entitled to seek refunds.
ABC News - CBP estimated it had collected $166 billion in tariffs before the Supreme Court ruling.
ABC News - Claims for refunds totaling $89.6 billion had been accepted for processing as of June 1.
ABC News - The agency directed the Treasury Department to issue $20.6 billion in refunds.
Alternet - The Trump administration has processed around half of the $166 billion in tariff refunds owed.
Alternet - As of May 22, more than $85 billion in repayments had been approved.
WHERE:
ABC News - The federal court hearing is taking place in New York.
ABC News - The U.S. Court of International Trade is involved in the case.
WHEN:
ABC News - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency official is set to testify in federal court on Tuesday.
ABC News - The online refund application system was launched on April 20.
ABC News - The Supreme Court struck down Trump's tariffs in late February.
ABC News - Judge Eaton ordered Customs and Border Protection in March to create a refund application system.
Alternet - The Supreme Court ruling occurred in February.
WHY:
ABC News - The Supreme Court ruled that Trump improperly imposed tariffs by citing an emergency powers law to usurp Congress' tax-making authority.
Alternet - The Trump administration is preparing a legal battle to claim it is "not required to pay all of those duties back."
HOW:
CNBC - Companies have asked Judge Eaton to certify a class of all importers who paid the illegal tariffs, which could simplify the refund process without the need for each importer to file a lawsuit.
ABC News - CBP has a detailed process for reviewing and clearing customs declarations on new imports, which includes estimating tariffs owed and making deposits.
ABC News - CBP has limited applications to businesses that did not have finalized tax bills at the time of the Supreme Court ruling or whose bills were settled within the preceding 80 days.
(UPDATED June 9, 2026 19:41 UTC)
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency has begun processing claims for nearly $90 billion in refunds related to what could total up to $127 billion in Phase 1 refunds. So far, $22 billion in refunds have been completed and sent to the Treasury Department for distribution to importers, while Judge Richard Eaton is holding a hearing to determine if the government will return all unlawfully collected duties. Companies are requesting that Judge Eaton certify a class of all importers who paid the illegal tariffs, which could streamline the refund process and eliminate the need for individual lawsuits.
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(UPDATED June 9, 2026 15:57 UTC)
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official is scheduled to testify in federal court in New York about the government's plans to refund billions of dollars in tariffs after the Supreme Court ruled that Trump illegally imposed certain tariffs on goods. The Justice Department has stated that only companies involved in over 2,500 lawsuits challenging these tariffs are eligible for refunds, with claims totaling $89.6 billion already accepted for processing. As of now, the agency has directed the Treasury Department to issue $20.6 billion in refunds, while the Trump administration prepares for a legal battle regarding the repayment of duties.