The Trump administration has distributed $100 billion in tariff refunds to businesses through customs officials, marking a significant repayment effort following a major judicial decision. The amount represents approximately 60% of all tariff revenue that was collected under the administration’s tariff policies, according to a court filing from US Customs and Border Protection.
In February, the Supreme Court ruled that broad import tariffs introduced under presidential economic powers were unlawful. The administration had relied on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a 1977 law that grants the president authority to regulate trade in response to emergencies. The tariffs had generated considerable opposition from businesses and trading partners concerned about increased costs and potential consumer price increases.
Despite the $100 billion in refunds already issued, a substantial portion of potential repayments remains in process. Approximately $29 billion in refund claims is currently under review by trade authorities, while another $1.6 billion cannot be processed because importers have not yet provided their banking information. These figures suggest the total refund amount will likely increase as outstanding claims are resolved and banking details are submitted.
Large corporations have already claimed substantial sums under the refund program. Amazon reported receiving approximately $600 million in refunds during the second quarter and indicated plans to return some funds to customers and allocate remaining amounts toward lower store prices. Under US customs law, only importers who directly paid tariffs are eligible to claim refunds, meaning any consumer relief depends entirely on individual business decisions.
Meanwhile, the administration introduced new tariff measures following the Supreme Court decision. A 10% universal tariff was implemented as a temporary measure but expired late last month. It was subsequently replaced by tariffs on 60 trading partners, with the administration citing claims that these countries have not adequately addressed forced labour issues. The administration also imposed a 50% tariff on Canada in connection with these trade actions.
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