According to Reuters, after the Supreme Court ruled reciprocal tariffs unlawful on Feb. 20, the Trump administration has begun the process of refunding those tariffs. Approximately 3 percent of the tariffs already collected have entered the refund phase. The federal government is expected to issue the first round of refunds around May 11. This refund package covers roughly $166 billion in tariffs and affects approximately 330,000 importers.
Documents released by the U.S. Court of International Trade (Court No. 25-00595) show that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has launched the first phase of its CAPE system to refund tariffs collected under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). CAPE is an automated management tool specifically developed by CBP to implement the Supreme Court’s ruling and process the $166 billion in tariff refunds.
As of April 28, 2026, 21 percent of the relevant customs entries had been approved for the removal of IEEPA tariffs. CBP has been working for several weeks to refund the $166 billion in tariffs plus interest. In response to issues users encountered with accessing the ACE refund system, resetting usernames and passwords, training registration, and importer identification, CBP has continued issuing updated guidance.
In February, the Supreme Court struck down these tariffs in a 6–3 decision. According to the latest court documents, refunds will be issued to import businesses rather than consumers; however, companies such as FedEx and UPS have pledged to pass along any savings.
As the administration enters the refund phase under court order, Trump has publicly praised patriotic companies such as Apple and Amazon that have declined to claim refunds or pledged to keep the funds invested domestically. Trump emphasized that he would remember these companies for supporting the nation’s vision during a critical moment. President Trump views the Supreme Court’s ruling as judicial overreach, arguing that it protects globalist interests at the expense of American workers.
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According to Reuters, Trump stated that although legal procedures have forced the government into the refund process for now, this is only a temporary setback in broader trade reform efforts. He is reportedly planning to redefine trade authority or launch new industry investigations to bypass the court’s technical barriers, ensuring that the United States retains strategic control and continues defending domestic industries.
“So we’re doing it a different way. We’re going to end up with the same — actually, we’ll end up with bigger numbers,” Trump said according to Reuters.