Federal judge Richard Eaton of the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled on March 4 that importers were entitled to refunds following the Supreme Court’s invalidation of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEEPA). More than $130 billion had been collected through mid-December 2025, according to NBC News and numerous other media outlets.
Eaton’s ruling provided some clarity about establishing a tariff refund process, something the Supreme Court did not address in its decision. The trade court’s ruling came just two days after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit refused to slow down the refund process, as the Trump Administration’s Justice Department had urged, according to NBC News.
We Pay the Tariffs, a coalition of more than 1,000 small businesses, hailed the court’s decision: “This is a victory for small businesses who have paid billions in unlawful tariffs and deserve their money back,” said Dan Anthony, the organization’s Executive Director in a statement. “The court acted swiftly and correctly. Now the ball is in the government’s court and small businesses are concerned they will drag this out further. American small businesses have waited long enough. A full, fast and automatic refund process is what these businesses are owed and anything less is unacceptable.”
