Editor's Note
This editor’s note highlights the key facts and market implications behind “Trump Pressures Companies Not to Seek Tariff Ref”, with emphasis on sourcing, product fit, fabrication, logistics, or buyer impact.
Former President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he would "remember" companies that choose not to seek refunds for tariffs the Supreme Court ruled were illegal. The comments came a day after the government opened a portal for companies to file claims.
Asked on CNBC if companies like Apple and Amazon were avoiding requesting refunds for fear of offending him, Trump said: "Brilliant if they don't." He added: "If they don't, I will remember them."
Trump also reiterated his frustration with the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision that overturned his broad tariffs. "I'm not happy with the Supreme Court, I'll be honest with you," he said, complaining that the ruling did not include language exempting already collected duties from refund.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched its refunds portal — called the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, or CAPE — on April 20. The system allows importers to file claims for duties collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA. CBP has said valid refunds will be issued within 60 to 90 days after a claim is accepted.
Not all companies have been able to access the system smoothly. Some importers reported error messages and technical issues on the portal's first day, according to CBS News. Learning Resources CEO Rick Woldenberg told CBS News that his company's attempt to file a refund claim received an error message — "The system is currently experiencing high volume, please try again later" — and described the portal as "glitchy," suggesting the traffic volume had proven too much to handle.
Major retailers could recover significant sums. Levi Strauss anticipates roughly $80 million in duty refunds, a figure its CFO Harmit Singh shared with CNBC, stemming from tariffs the apparel company paid on imported denim and other products. Gap CFO Katrina O'Connell said the retailer has not yet factored any refund benefit into its financial outlook, noting in a statement to CNBC that "the situation is fluid right now as to how, when or if refunds will ultimately be made."
The refund process is the result of the Supreme Court's February ruling that overturned IEEPA tariffs as executive overreach. The court did not address refunds directly, leaving that issue to lower courts. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent subsequently labeled the refunds as "corporate welfare," and Trump described them as an "unearned benefit." A federal judge later ordered the administration to begin laying the groundwork for refunds.
More than 2,000 companies sued the Trump administration hoping to recover the duties they paid, and CBP logged about 53 million tariff entries covering goods like toys, furniture, clothing, and cars. CBP figures show the number of registered importers eligible to participate stood at roughly 56,497 as of April 14, and the agency has identified approximately $127 billion in qualified duties — including interest — that could be returned through the portal.
Source: Read the original article | Published: April 21, 2026