President Donald Trump on Tuesday reportedly suggested it would be “brilliant” if major U.S. companies choose not to pursue refunds tied to tariffs his administration imposed—levies that were later struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.
Speaking in a phone interview with CNBC, Trump was asked about large corporations such as Apple and Amazon, which have not yet sought reimbursement for tariffs they previously paid. The question raised the possibility that some companies may be hesitant to act out of concern for how such a move might be perceived by the president.
Trump appeared to welcome their restraint.
“I think it’s brilliant if they don’t do that,” he said. “Actually, if they don’t do that, they’ve got to know me very well. I’m very honored by what you just said.”
He added a pointed note that underscored his view of loyalty in business and politics alike. “If they don’t do that, I’ll remember them,” Trump said.
The remarks come as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) moves forward with a formal process to handle refunds. The agency recently launched a portal known as CAPE, designed to allow importers and brokers to submit claims for tariffs paid under the now-invalidated policy.
Earlier this year, in a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration had exceeded its authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act when it imposed sweeping tariffs on nearly every country. While the court found the policy unlawful, it stopped short of offering a clear path forward on how refunds should be handled—leaving federal agencies and businesses to sort out the financial and legal aftermath.
According to CBP, more than 330,000 importers paid tariffs totaling roughly $166 billion, a staggering figure that now sits at the center of the dispute. Trump, for his part, expressed clear frustration with the ruling, describing it as “a little setback” with major financial consequences.
“Because of what they did, we have to pay back $160 billion,” he said. “All they had to do is add one sentence, just one sentence, and that’s, ‘You don’t have to pay anything taken in thus far, back.’”
He did not hide his dissatisfaction with the high court. “So, I’m not happy with the Supreme Court. I’ll be honest with you,” Trump added.
For companies weighing whether to pursue refunds, the process is expected to be detailed and time-consuming. Businesses must submit declarations covering all goods subject to the tariffs, and CBP has indicated that reviews and payments could take between 60 and 90 days. Most refunds, the agency says, will be distributed electronically.
Initial claims will be prioritized based on how recently customs entries were finalized, with the first wave focusing on those processed within the last 80 days.
As the situation unfolds, companies are left navigating a complicated landscape—balancing financial recovery with broader considerations about their relationships with policymakers. At the same time, the episode highlights the far-reaching consequences of sweeping economic measures, and the costly ripple effects that can follow when those policies are challenged in court.
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