U.S. companies scramble for refunds after Supreme Court rejects Trump’s blanket tariffs
Trump warns of a lengthy and messy court fight
By Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times - Friday, February 20, 2026
U.S. businesses fought President Trump’s sweeping tariffs and won. Now, they want their money back.
The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Mr. Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is unleashing a scramble by companies to secure refunds for the money they paid to U.S. customs over the past year.
The footwear and apparel industry, which relies heavily on overseas production in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, said it expects the government to act fast.
“We are confident in Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) ability to move quickly and provide clear guidance to American businesses on how to obtain refunds for tariffs that were unlawfully collected,” said Steve Lamar, president and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association.
He said the CBP’s “recently modernized, fully electronic refund process should help to expedite this effort.”
Recent estimates from private and government sources place the amount of potential refunds in the $130 billion to $175 billion range.
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https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/feb/20/us-firms-scramble-refunds-supreme-court-rejects-trumps-blanket/
