US has refunded about $100 billion in Trump tariffs

Since the US Supreme Court invalidated a series of tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump last year, the administration has issued approximately $100 billion in refunds to importers, according to court filings. This refund amount accounts for about 60% of the $166 billion collected by the Trump administration following its use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose duties.

The Trump administration relied on this act to impose tariffs on various trading partners, but the court ruled in February that Trump had exceeded his authority in doing so. The decision dealt a significant setback to the president's ability to utilize tariffs as a leverage tool against allies and competitors. Despite the court ruling, some of Trump's sector-specific tariffs that employ different justifications remain in effect.

On July 31, a US Customs and Border Protection official reported that $128.68 billion in potential and certified refunds had been accepted for processing, with around $100 billion successfully completed and sent to the Treasury Department for disbursement. Since the February ruling, Trump has resorted to other methods to reimpose tariffs on numerous partners, leading to additional court challenges.