Supreme Court justices weigh refund process for Trump tariffs
Source: Politico
11/05/2025 03:07 PM EST
The Supreme Court on Wednesday contemplated the process for paying back billions in tariffs the Trump administration has collected, should the justices rule those duties are illegal.
How would this work? It seems to me like this could be a mess, Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked Neal Katyal, the lead counsel representing a group of small-business plaintiffs. Those businesses, along with a dozen Democratic-led states, have challenged the duties Trump imposed on dozens of countries under a 1977 law known as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, in a consolidated set of cases that has speedily worked its way through the federal court system.
Katyal told the court that only the businesses directly involved in the case before the Supreme Court would automatically be entitled to refunds should the tariffs be struck down, noting that others would likely have to challenge the duties through a separate process to protest duties that have been paid.
With respect to everyone else, there is a whole, specialized body of trade law, Katyal said, spelling out the procedures. Its a very complicated thing. Theres got to be an administrative protest, he added, noting that similar reimbursement procedures have often been lengthy. So, a mess, Barrett responded.
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/05/supreme-court-examines-complications-if-trump-tariffs-are-refunded-00637820
Frasier Balzov
(4,729 posts)was always what Trump was counting on when he assumed SCOTUS wouldn't rule against him on the tariff authority he has been claiming for himself and acting upon all these months.
Hugin
(37,136 posts)Too screwed up to fail.
Ruling that the tariffs are illegal shouldnt be contingent on a process for repayment of the tariffs already paid.
That should be a separate case to determine the process for reimbursement and more importantly, who is liable. Maybe even some people personally liable like Trump and others who may not have been foolishly granted immunity.
Old Crank
(6,418 posts)People have records. The government has the records of what was collected and from whom.
Should be paif back in 90 days. We have a every efficient government now thanks to Edolf......
Marthe48
(22,362 posts)either by stock manipulation or cash handed over in the dead of night.
BumRushDaShow
(163,346 posts)C_U_L8R
(48,546 posts)He broke it, he fixes it.
But as ever, well probably get stuck cleaning up after him.
That should not stop the court from doing the right thing.
no_hypocrisy
(53,773 posts)Last edited Thu Nov 6, 2025, 05:30 AM - Edit history (1)
Step 2: The money should be put into a trust.
Here's the thing: If the money is returned to businesses and they keep it, it's a windfall as they already were reimbursed by the consumers/customers. The money really should be returned to the consumers/customers, but the problem is the distribution of the assets. How to prove it.
GOT IT!!!
Put the collected monies from the tariff into the General Accounting and give either tax rebates or tax breaks to the Middle Class and lower income Americans for 2025. Remember Shrub with "It's YOUR money!" Well, in this case, it is. Return the stolen assets from the consumers/customers to all American middle class and lower income taxpayers.
moniss
(8,386 posts)Walleye
(43,207 posts)Or the rule of law because its just too haaarrd!
Raven123
(7,317 posts)If payback proves too complicated. No, it is not completely fair, but I can think of a couple of SCOTUS rulings that havent seen that as an obstacle.
Javaman
(64,914 posts)"it's just too complex for us mere humans to figure out"
or they will "refund" like 1 % of the money and call it "even".
wolfie001
(6,524 posts).....have any second thoughts on how bad they've screwed America up? Almost single-handedly (or double-handedly)? 2 massive pieces of shite.
mzmolly
(52,543 posts)to a decision by the Supreme Court. The country is mess right now, in large part due to the SCOTUS and the foul beast in the White House.
twodogsbarking
(16,760 posts)It is also difficult to afford to live, Amy.
FakeNoose
(39,493 posts)You can give "refunds" to importers and exporters, or foreign governments, or whatever. But we're the ones who ultimately paid for it all. How do we get reimbursed?
I'd settle for removing Chump and Vance from government for all-time, never to be allowed back, and I'd call it even.