WASHINGTON: American importers can begin applying Monday for refunds totaling $166 billion plus interest on tariffs the Supreme Court struck down two months ago, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced.
The online portal, called the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE), went live to handle what CBP described as the largest repayment program in history.
It consolidates refunds for duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which President Donald Trump used for the now-defunct “Liberation Day” tariffs, rather than processing claims entry by entry.
Only importers of record or their authorized customs brokers qualify to file. CBP estimates refunds will issue within 60 to 90 days after approval, though additional reviews could extend timelines. The rollout starts with a first phase limited to certain payments; no date is set for all eligible claims.
The Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs in February. In March, the U.S. Court of International Trade ordered refunds of more than $160 billion collected from roughly 330,000 importers, as Judge Richard Eaton wrote: “All importers of record whose entries were subject to IEEPA duties are entitled to the benefit” from the high court’s ruling.
As of early April, over 56,000 importers had prepared claims worth $127 billion.
Consumers who faced higher prices from the tariffs won’t get direct refunds. Officials from the Trump administration, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have urged companies to use any “windfall” for worker bonuses rather than passing savings to shoppers.
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett suggested on Fox News that alternative authorities might reduce refund amounts. The administration could take further steps to delay or shrink payouts.
Some consumers have filed class-action lawsuits alleging companies passed on tariff costs. Federal cases target EssilorLuxottica, maker of Ray-Ban, and FedEx. Costco faces a suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Costco CEO Ron Vachris said the retailer plans to share any refunds with customers through lower prices.
Importers often couldn’t fully offset tariff costs through price hikes and faced added burdens like debt and lost sales.