The US government has declined to refund tariffs the Supreme Court has ruled illegal, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Trump administration tries to hold on to as much as $150bn in disputed levies.
Customs officials are rejecting companies’ attempts to reclaim duties imposed under emergency powers invoked by US President Donald Trump, leaving businesses in limbo and pushing more cases into court.
Companies have been unsure how to claim back money paid in duties since America’s top court ruled last month that Trump did not have the authority to impose his signature tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.