A federal appeals court has denied the Trump administration's request to postpone the implementation of the Supreme Court's ruling that invalidated most of President Trump's tariffs, allowing the process of tariff refunds to proceed swiftly. This decision paves the way for the U.S. Court of International Trade to begin crafting relief for small businesses that successfully challenged Mr. Trump's global tariffs. The Trump administration had initially promised refunds if the duties targeting nearly every U.S. trading partner were deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court. However, the high court's ruling in a 6-3 decision stated that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) did not grant the president the authority to impose tariffs. Despite this, the administration sought a 90-day delay to consider options, but the Federal Circuit court disagreed, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The Justice Department lawyers estimated a lengthy refund process, despite warnings from Trump administration officials about potential financial liabilities. The small businesses' lawyers argued against any delay, highlighting the government's experience in issuing tariff refunds and the administration's prior commitments to refunding duties with interest. This has sparked a wave of lawsuits in the federal trade court, with companies like FedEx, Revlon, and Costco seeking refunds. Neal Katyal, representing the small businesses, expressed determination to expedite the refund process, ensuring Americans receive the refunds they are owed.
