Trump Administration Fights Court Order to Refund Some Tariffs

The Trump administration is resisting a court order that requires the government to refund the full $166 billion collected from illegal tariffs, raising the possibility that only some importers will be completely repaid.In a series of recent legal maneuvers, the administration has indicated that it could hold up the return of potentially tens of billions in those previously paid duties.The government collected the revenue under a slate of tariffs first enacted by President Trump last year and struck down by the Supreme Court in February.The Trump administration has also moved to shield Rodney S.

Scott, the top customs official, from testifying at a court hearing scheduled for next week about the tariff refund process.Days after a judge ordered him to submit to questioning, the Justice Department filed a harshly worded emergency appeal, seeking to send someone else in his place.The administration’s refusal only infuriated the judge, Richard K.

Eaton on the Court of International Trade, who had issued the original order that commenced the tariff refund process.In a sharply worded series of letters, filed Wednesday, Judge Eaton doubled down on his demand for Mr.

Scott’s testimony, adding: “There is $166 billion at stake.”The result was a dizzying new round of legal wrangling between the U.S.government and importers, the latest in a year of trade brinkmanship and uncertainty.

For many businesses, it remains as unclear as ever if, or when, they will get back the full sums they paid in illegal tariffs, particularly given Mr.Trump’s publicly stated opposition to returning any of the money.The fight came as the Trump administration took the first steps toward implementing a new round of tariffs meant to replace those struck down by the Supreme Court, including a proposed tariff of at least 10 percent on more than 80 countries.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience whil...