US refunds $100bn in tariffs struck down by Supreme Court, filing shows

In a recent court filing, the United States has revealed that it has refunded approximately $100 billion in tariffs that were collected before the US Supreme Court struck down those duties. This amount, representing over half of the $166 billion collected, was certified by the customs agency and sent to the U.S. Department of Treasury for disbursement as of the end of July.

The refunds encompass both the duties and the accumulated interest. Former President Donald Trump's administration implemented these tariffs as a cornerstone of his trade policies, despite facing criticism and legal challenges. Critics argue that the refunds have not reached individual consumers but rather corporate importers, with Democratic Congressman Greg Casar specifically calling for the refunds to be directed towards American citizens.

The Supreme Court's ruling against the tariffs in February overturned most of Trump's expansive tariff list, citing that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the president the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs on imported goods. In response, Trump escalated his trade strategy by imposing new temporary 10% tariffs under a different legal framework, which he contends is a novel approach not previously utilized by any president.