Trump administration appeals $166B tariff refund order

The Trump administration has formally appealed a federal judge's order requiring the government to refund $166 billion in tariffs that were declared unlawful by the Supreme Court earlier this year. The legal challenge, filed by the Justice Department on Tuesday, June 2, seeks to overturn a universal injunction mandating refunds for all importers and to block a judge's directive for a top customs official to testify about the repayment process.

In February, the Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. The court's decision invalidated the levies but left the question of refunds to lower courts. Following that ruling, Judge Richard K. Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to refund all importers who had paid the tariffs. The agency oversees the repayment process for approximately 330,000 importers.

The government's appeal argues that Judge Eaton exceeded his authority by issuing a universal refund order. Justice Department lawyers contend that CBP lacks the legal authority to refund money for tariff payments that have...