US appeals court denies Trump bid to delay tariff refund lawsuits
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Shipping containers are stacked up at the port of Oakland, in the US state of California.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON - A US federal appeals court on March 2 rejected President Donald Trump’s push to delay legal proceedings linked to tariff refunds, allowing the battle to proceed in a lower court.
The Supreme Court in February delivered a stinging rebuke of Mr Trump’s signature economic policy
The tariffs ruled illegal had generated over US$130 billion (S$164 billion) for the US government as of late-2025.
The Trump administration argued on Feb 27 for a delay of up to four months before litigation on refunds is brought up again at the US Court of International Trade.
But the demand was denied on March 2 in an order by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
A group of small businesses whose case is before the court said in an earlier filing on March 2 that the Trump administration’s call for a months-long delay was “plainly unreasonable”.
“This Court should not accept the government’s invitation to grant forms of relief the Supreme Court obviously found inappropriate,” they argued.
The Supreme Court decision does not impact Mr Trump’s sector-specific duties.
Rush for refunds
Mr Trump’s global tariffs have triggered a barrage of legal pushback.
The Liberty Justice Center, a group representing some of the small businesses challenging the tariffs, estimates that more than 900 claims seeking refunds have been filed in federal court.
These include claims by major firms like delivery and freight giant FedEx, which filed a suit in February, and warehouse retailer Costco, whose challenge came before the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Others that have filed cases recently include appliances maker Dyson and cosmetics giant L’Oreal.
Some analysts estimate that over 1,000 corporate entities are already involved in the fight for repayments.
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in August 2025 that many of Mr Trump’s tariffs were illegal but would return the question of refunds to the Court of International Trade.
It held off on returning the case to the lower court as Mr Trump appealed to the Supreme Court – though on March 2 lifted the halt.
“For months, the government insisted there was no irreparable harm because businesses could always be made whole through refunds,” the Liberty Justice Center said in a statement last week.
“The government cannot have it both ways. It cannot argue there is no harm because refunds are available – and then delay when the time comes to return the money,” it added.
After the high court struck down his country-specific tariffs, Mr Trump tapped a different law to impose a new 10-per cent duty on imports. He has threatened to hike the level to 15 per cent
On Feb 27, Mr Trump again slammed the ruling on social media: “Is a Rehearing or Readjudication of this case possible???” AFP
