US refunds $100 billion in tariffs after Supreme Court ruling

The United States has issued refunds totaling roughly $100 billion in tariffs, a significant financial reversal following the Supreme Court's decision earlier this year to strike down the majority of these levies. This figure accounts for approximately 60% of the nearly $166 billion collected under tariffs imposed during the Donald Trump administration.

These refunds are being distributed to importers who paid the tariffs. The Trump administration had utilized the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to implement these trade tariffs upon his return to the White House in 2025. However, the Supreme Court ruled in February that the president had overstepped his authority, delivering a substantial blow to his economic policy.

The court's decision, while impacting the collected tariffs, did not affect sector-specific tariffs on goods such as steel, aluminum, copper, or lumber. According to documents accessed by AFP, an official from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stated that as of July 31, approximately $128.68 billion in potential and certified refunds were being processed.

Of that amount, around $100 billion had already been forwarded to the Treasury Department for disbursement. Since the February ruling, the Trump administration has announced new tariffs on numerous U.S. trading partners, which have subsequently led to further legal challenges.