The legal crisis surrounding trade policies in the US is deepening. Last month, the US Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s global tariffs were illegal and annulled them. This decision paved the way for companies to seek reimbursement from the government, triggering a complex litigation process worth billions of dollars.
The tariffs that the court annulled had generated over $130 billion in revenue for the US government by the end of 2025. However, following the decision, numerous companies began filing lawsuits in federal courts to recover the taxes they had paid.
The Trump administration requested a delay of up to four months in the reconsideration of reimbursement cases. This request was rejected today by the United States Federal Court of Appeals, thus eliminating the possibility of further delays in the process.
The application, filed on behalf of the small businesses that brought the case, stated that the administration’s request for a delay lasting months was “clearly unreasonable.” The businesses argued that relief that the Supreme Court did not deem appropriate should not be granted through lower courts.
The decision does not cover Trump’s industry-specific tariffs. However, the cancellation of country-specific global tariffs has led to an explosion in reimbursement claims. According to the Liberty Justice Center, which represents small businesses, more than 900 reimbursement claims have been filed in federal courts so far.
*This is not investment advice.