Feds unable to process billions in tariff refunds owed by Trump

President Donald Trump's administration tariff refund portal will process only 63 percent of 53 million import entries when it launches, according to a court filing.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection told the U.S. Court of International Trade the system cannot immediately handle refund claims for the remaining one-third of entries without providing a timeline for subsequent phases.

The Supreme Court declared Trump's tariff orders unlawful in February, determining importers paid $166 billion under contested levies. The agency previously committed to operational status by mid-April and in its initial phase, it would only process tariffs not yet "final," a designation typically occurring over a year after goods enter.

Brandon Lord, CBP's Trade Programs executive director, stated that including "final" duties would prevent meeting the mid-April deadline. The main portal was 85 percent complete as of this week. The administration has registered 26,000 importers for electronic refunds, representing approximately $120 billion in challenged tariffs.

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