Court Pauses Immediate Tariff Repayments as CBP Plans System Fix
Court of International Trade paused immediate repayment after CBP said it needs 45 days to add ACE functionality to process refunds of about $166 billion in IEEPA tariffs.
PBS NewsHourNews Wrap: U.S. could start refunding invalidated tariffs in 45 days
Straight Arrow NewsCourt backs off requiring Trump admin to immediately repay $166B in tariffs
Business InsiderThese companies want their tariff money back from the Trump administration, and they're suing
CNBCTrump tariffs: Customs and Border Protection tells judge it can't comply with refund order
Overview
A U.S. Court of International Trade suspended a previous order requiring Customs and Border Protection to immediately refund about $166 billion after CBP told the court it could not immediately comply.
The Supreme Court ruled on February 20 that President Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose the IEEPA tariffs, triggering refund claims.
Brandon Lord of CBP said the agency faces an unprecedented refund volume and can add ACE functionality in 45 days, which CBP estimated would save over 4 million hours.
CBP said about 300,000 to 330,000 importers made roughly 53 million to 54 million tariff payments totaling about $166 billion, and Judge Richard Eaton ordered refunds with interest.
CBP said its new process would let importers submit amounts through existing portals to avoid individual lawsuits, but the government could still appeal Eaton's order, potentially delaying refunds.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this story neutrally, focusing on factual developments — the Supreme Court ruling, CBP filings, and company lawsuits — and attributing claims to named sources. They use precise legal and financial terms, include multiple company perspectives across sectors, and limit evaluative language, treating direct quotes and litigation details as source content.
FAQ
On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that President Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs, as that power belongs to Congress.
ACE is the Automated Commercial Environment, CBP's system for processing imports. CBP needs 45 days to add functionality to ACE to handle refunds of $166 billion from 300,000-330,000 importers across 53-54 million payments, saving over 4 million hours.
CBP plans a new process allowing importers to submit refund amounts through existing ACE portals to avoid individual lawsuits, following the CIT's pause for system fixes.
Tariffs from EOs including 14193 (Northern Border/Illicit Drugs), 14194 (Southern Border), 14195 (PRC Synthetic Opioid), 14245 (Venezuelan Oil), 14257 (Reciprocal Trade Deficit), 14323 (Brazil), and 14329 (Russian Federation), paid from February 4, 2025, or later.
Yes, the government could appeal Judge Eaton's refund order, and further procedural developments or litigation at CIT may delay refunds despite the current pause.
