Government challenges $100 billion in refunds ordered for companies that paid illegal tariffs but did not file lawsuits.
The US government appealed a Court of International Trade ruling requiring Customs and Border Patrol to refund $100 billion in tariffs to all importers, including those that did not sue. The appeal argues the judge exceeded authority by issuing a universal injunction, citing a 2025 Supreme Court decision limiting such rulings to specific litigants.
Most refunds have already been processed, but the dispute centers on companies that paid tariffs without filing lawsuits. The government contends the ruling conflicts with legal precedent and Congressional rules preventing reprocessing of finalized tariff entries.
The case hinges on whether universal injunctions apply to trade disputes, with the government asserting they do not align with recent Supreme Court guidance. A decision could set a precedent for future trade litigation.