Trump tariff refunds begin after Supreme Court order

The administration of former President Trump has started to issue refunds for billions of dollars in tariffs that the US Supreme Court deemed invalid in February. This refund initiative is set to become the largest repayment program ever. Companies can file online to get back money they paid under the "Liberation Day" tariffs, including interest. In March, the US Court of International Trade directed customs officials to refund over $160 billion (£121 billion) collected by the government, allowing about 330,000 importers the chance to reclaim some of their money. However, individual consumers who faced higher prices due to these tariffs are not likely to receive any compensation. The refunds are related to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In March, Judge Richard Eaton stated, "All importers of record whose entries were subject to IEEPA duties are entitled to the benefit" from the Supreme Court's decision. By early April, over 56,000 importers had successfully completed the steps to apply for refunds online, with claims totaling $127 billion (£943 million). The refund portal, known as the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (Cape), was launched on Monday. A spokesperson from Customs and Border Protection mentioned that Cape was designed to "efficiently process refunds."