US Customs Agency, Trade Judge Address Tariff Refund Path

By EC Assets · Published 9 June 2026

A US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official is scheduled to testify in federal court regarding the government's plans for refunding billions of dollars in Trump tariffs. This testimony is part of efforts by the US customs agency and a trade judge to finalize tariff refunds. The dispute centers on how to process what could be one of the largest mass refunds in US trade history. Judge Richard Eaton previously ordered CBP to establish a mechanism enabling importers to seek reimbursement for duties collected under an invalidated policy. The judge suspended his order to allow time for the customs agency to develop a portal for refund claims. This portal launched in April. The core issue under discussion is whether companies whose tariffs received final approval, known as liquidation, and then passed 90 days, known as final, are eligible. The government maintains that only companies that were parties in any of the more than 2,500 lawsuits challenging the tariffs are legally entitled to seek refunds. All customs refunds will transition to mandatory electronic payment (ACH), as announced by CBP via CSMS #67270895. This article is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice.