Trump Administration Begins Refunds for Illegal Tariffs

The Trump administration has begun processing refunds for import duties that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled illegal in February, opening the door to what could become a $160 billion payout across all affected goods, according to reporting by Thomson Reuters and estimates cited by trade groups. The move comes after tariffs tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act hit wine and other imported products hard, including Italian wine shipments to the United States.

For european wine sector, the duties have already taken a visible toll. Exports to the U.S. closed 2025 at 4.4 billion euros, down 14% from 2024. The impact has also been felt on the American side of the trade, with the American Association of Wine Economists estimating that the duties brought $492.2 million into U.S. government coffers.

The refund process, known as Consolidated Administration & Processing of Entries, or Cape, is intended to let importers recover money paid under the invalidated tariffs. As of April 9, 56,497 importers had completed the electronic filing process needed to seek refunds, representing potential recoveries of $127 billion. In total, about 330,000 importers are believed to have paid the duties and may be eligible for reimbursement.

Trade lawyers and importers say the process is complicated, especially for smaller companies that may not have the staff or documentation needed to navigate it quickly. Many businesses are also worried that any gains from refunds could be erased if President Trump follows through on new tariff threats he has made in recent days. Analysts say those threats could offset much or all of the benefit from any money returned under the current refund program.