Appeals court won’t delay tariff refunds

By Brett Rowland
The Center Square

A federal appeals court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s request to delay a step toward granting tariff refunds.

The government had asked for a 90-day delay “to allow the political branches an opportunity to consider options.” The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted the motion from the Liberty Justice Center, which represents a group of small businesses in the case. The case now heads back to the Court of International Trade.

Attorneys for the federal government said refunding tariffs to the U.S. businesses that paid them could take time and urged a court not to rush, a move opponents said would cost taxpayers even more.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act didn’t give Trump expansive tariff powers. The high court said Congress alone has the power to impose tariffs.