Recent headlines have been dominated by events in the Middle East, but legal disputes surrounding US tariff policy have also been intensifying during the past couple of weeks.

The heat has been turned up since last month’s ruling by the US Supreme Court to strike down President Trump’s “Liberty Day” tariffs. That decision has triggered a wave of new legal challenges and prompted the administration to introduce new trade measures.

The Battle Over Tariff Refunds

The US Court of International Trade ordered US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last week to issue tariff refunds after a case brought by a single Tennessee-based importer. Although the ruling formally applies to that company, the judge suggested its implications are broader, stating that all importers whose entries were subject to duties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are entitled to benefit.

CBP said it cannot yet comply but could begin issuing refunds by late April after updating its systems. The changes would cover more than 330,000 importers and about 53 million tariff entries. However, refunds still remain uncertain as government lawyers have indicated they ‘may’ challenge the order.

New Tariffs Now Being Challenged

Immediately after the Supreme Court’s ruling, President Trump introduced a 10% global tariff using an alternative rule that allows temporary tariffs for up to 150 days before seeking congressional approval. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the rate will likely rise to 15% soon, the maximum allowed for this rule.

However, the policy is now been challenged through court. A coalition of 22 US states, led by Democratic administrations, have filed a lawsuit to block the tariff imposed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, arguing it was not intended to address trade imbalances. The White House naturally rejects the claim and says it will vigorously defend the tariffs in court.

MultiFreight will continue to monitor developments as the legal battles hot up.