Trump Vows to ‘Remember’ Companies That Abstain from Seeking Tariff Refunds Amid Supreme Court Ruling
Washington: President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he will “remember” companies that choose not to seek refunds for tariffs deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. This statement comes as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has begun accepting electronic refund applications from importers. Trump did not clarify how companies might benefit from abstaining from the government’s new refund portal.
Following reports that major corporations like Apple, Amazon, Target, and Walmart have not yet filed for refunds, Trump expressed approval during a live phone conversation with CNBC. He remarked, “It’s brilliant if they don’t do that,” adding that he would keep track of such companies as he aims to strengthen the nation.
The tariffs in question amount to approximately $166 billion, collected from U.S. importers under a 1977 law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This law is intended for use during national emergencies. The Supreme Court invalidated these tariffs in February, ruling that Trump had overstepped his authority.
Trump has previously framed the payment of tariffs by U.S. importers as a patriotic act. However, he characterized companies pursuing refunds as the “enemy,” stating, “In many cases, the enemy – the enemy – is getting this money.” He lamented that the U.S. is providing “checks for billions of dollars” to entities that he claims “have hated the United States.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling has led to significant implications for U.S. importers. While companies like Costco, FedEx, and Mondelez have initiated legal action to secure their ability to claim refunds, Apple, Amazon, Target, and Walmart have not joined these lawsuits. They still have the option to submit requests through the CBP’s automated refund portal, known as CAPE.
Some industry experts interpret the cautious approach of these companies as a strategy to avoid provoking Trump. Representatives from Apple, Amazon, Target, and Walmart did not respond to requests for comment regarding their positions on the tariff refunds.
Apple has previously disclosed that tariffs increased its costs by approximately $3.3 billion last year. Other major retailers have been less forthcoming about the financial impact of the tariffs on their operations. In May, Trump advised Walmart to “eat the tariffs” rather than raise prices, while his administration accused Amazon of engaging in a “hostile and political act” for considering tariff surcharges in its pricing strategy.
Refund Requests Roll In
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling, Judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade mandated that the government issue refunds for duties paid by importers. To facilitate this, CBP launched the CAPE system for processing refunds, which began operating on Monday with minimal issues.
However, on Tuesday, Eaton issued a temporary stay on his order, requiring CBP to submit a progress report on the refund processing system by April 28. This stay was prompted by a legal brief from customs surety bond providers seeking the ability to apply for refunds on behalf of importers who defaulted on bonds or went out of business. Customs bonds are necessary for imports valued over $2,500 to ensure tariff payments, but the current refund system does not accommodate surety providers.
Despite the judge’s stay, the refund portal continued to accept submissions on Tuesday, according to Lynlee Brown, a global trade partner at accounting firm EY. Refund payments are expected to be processed within 60 to 90 days after CBP accepts the submissions.
CBP has not provided immediate comments regarding the status of the refund processing. Eaton has also set a June 7 deadline for the Trump administration to appeal his ruling requiring refunds, which could delay the payment processing.
Adam Hanover, managing director and tariff-refund expert at CohnReznick, expressed surprise that Trump has not halted the refund process despite the judge’s stay. Hanover anticipated that Trump would cite external factors, such as ongoing conflicts, to justify a pause in tariff processing. He believes that major importers like Apple will ultimately seek refunds, emphasizing the significant financial stakes involved.
‘Unwieldy’ Tariffs
Trump indicated that his administration is exploring alternative tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which may yield greater revenue than the invalidated tariffs but will be more complex to implement. This process requires investigations and public comments, with new tariffs not expected to be imposed until July.
Trump stated, “So we’re doing it a different way. We’re going to end up with the same – actually, we’ll end up with bigger numbers, actually – but it’s a little more unwieldy. But it’s the way it’s been done.”
Source: www.emirates247.com
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Published on 2026-04-22 10:01:00 • By the Editorial Desk
