The Trump administration’s request to delay tariff refunds was rejected by the court. | WPN World People News

After the Supreme Court ruled that the reciprocal tariffs imposed by former President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were unlawful, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on the 2nd formally denied the federal government’s request to delay refund litigation for four months. The court ordered that the case be immediately remanded to the U.S. Court of International Trade to resume legal proceedings.

The U.S. Department of Justice had argued that the Federal Circuit should wait until the Supreme Court officially closes the case and allow time for the political branches to formulate a response. The Supreme Court typically takes 32 days to formally conclude a case.

The appeals court did not provide a written explanation or note any dissents in its decision on the 2nd. More than 2,000 related cases are currently pending before the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York. Although the Trump administration suggested in recent filings that refunds may be difficult to avoid, it stopped short of confirming whether it would fully reimburse businesses for tariffs paid over the past year.

Trump previously said the Supreme Court’s ruling would need to be addressed through litigation and even hinted at asking the justices to reconsider the decision—an action the Court rarely grants. The Liberty Justice Center, a legal advocacy group representing importers, welcomed the ruling, emphasizing that the court has made clear the government will not be allowed to continue delaying the process.

The U.S. Court of International Trade has not yet outlined the specific procedures for issuing refunds, and a spokesperson for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.