The legal crisis surrounding US trade policy is worsening. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that global tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump were illegal and struck them down. The ruling opened the way for companies to seek reimbursement from the government, triggering a complex litigation process worth billions of dollars.
The tariffs overturned by the court had generated more than $130 billion in revenue for the U.S. government by the end of 2025. However, following the ruling, many companies began filing lawsuits in federal courts to recoup the taxes they had paid.
The Trump administration has requested a delay of up to four months to review reimbursement files. That request was rejected today by the United States Court of Appeals, eliminating the possibility of further delays in the process.
The motion, filed on behalf of the small businesses that filed the complaint, said the administration’s request for a delay of several months was “clearly unreasonable.” The companies argued that relief that the Supreme Court did not find appropriate should not be granted by lower courts.
The decision does not cover Trump’s industry-specific tariffs. However, the cancellation of country-specific global tariffs has led to an explosion in refund requests. According to the Liberty Justice Center, which represents small businesses, more than 900 claims have been filed so far in federal courts.
*This does not constitute investment advice.
