U.S. Justice Department Faces Deadline on Illegal Tariff Refunds

The U.S. Justice Department is required to respond by February 27 to a motion filed by plaintiffs seeking expedited refunds of 'illegal tariffs' through the Court of International Trade (CIT). According to Jin10, trade lawyers report that over 2,000 companies have filed lawsuits with the CIT demanding tariff refunds. Plaintiffs are concerned that the government may attempt to delay the refund process. Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal, giving the federal court system approximately one month to determine the next steps.