Importers have been paid about $71bn in tariff refunds, with an appeal still running

US Customs and Border Protection has paid roughly $71 billion including interest to importers refunding tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Michael Cohn at Accounting Today reported the figures, current as of June 29. CBP collected about $166 billion under those tariffs. The Supreme Court ruled them unlawful in February.

Claims run through the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries system, which opened in April. Phase One covered roughly $100 billion of claims. Phase Two opened in late June. Importers file through their importer of record or a customs broker, and CBP wires the money rather than mailing checks. The government has appealed the scope of the refund order to the Federal Circuit, which may delay payment on finally liquidated entries.