US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (April 21st) he would “remember” US companies that choose not to seek refunds for tariffs imposed by his administration, even as the government’s system begins to process more than $160 billion in potential repayments following a landmark court ruling.
Trump was asked about a number of major companies, including Apple and Amazon, that have not asked for refunds for the tariffs they have paid, potentially because they fear “offending” Trump.
Asked if it would be offensive for them to demand a refund, Trump said: “Great if they don’t.”
“Actually, if they don’t, they must know me very well,” he said. “I am very honored by what you just said.
“If they don’t, I’m going to remember them,” Trump said.
Trump’s remarks to CNBC came a day after US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched a portal to allow importers to apply for refunds tied to duties imposed under emergency powers.
The refunds follow a US Supreme Court ruling in February that struck down the tariff framework and declared the measures legally invalid.
The Supreme Court’s blow to tariff policy
In a 6-3 ruling on Feb. 20, the Supreme Court found that Trump exceeded his authority by imposing broad import taxes under the national emergency law. The court said the move effectively circumvented Congress’s constitutional role in setting taxes and created a significant legal impediment to the administration’s trade policy.
While the ruling did not directly address refunds, a subsequent ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade determined that companies subject to tariffs were entitled to refunds.
The refund process is ongoing
CBP data shows the extent of the refund. More than 330,000 importers paid duties on more than 53 million shipments, contributing to roughly $166 billion in duties. As of mid-April, 56,497 importers had completed registration for the refund process, covering about $127 billion worth of claims including interest.
The newly launched system – known as CAPE – consolidates refunds into individual electronic payments rather than processing them by mail. Once approved, refunds are expected to be issued within 60 to 90 days.
However, officials have indicated that the payments will be rolled out in phases, prioritizing newer tariff transactions. Technical and procedural hurdles could delay some claims, meaning refunds could take a while to fully reach businesses — and even longer to filter down to consumers.
Political and economic impact
The question of who benefits from refunds has become politically sensitive. While businesses are eligible for duty refunds as importers of record, consumers—who ultimately bear the cost through higher prices—are not directly compensated.
Limited initial eligibility
Not all claims will be processed immediately. The first phase of the system focuses on cases where tariffs have either been estimated but not finalized or fall within a specific window after posting. Importers must also submit detailed declarations of affected goods and register with CBP’s electronic payment system to be eligible.
