Judge orders tariff refunds, hearing set for Friday

(The Center Square) – The government must refund more than $130 billion in tariffs imposed under President Donald Trump's unconstitutional tariff regime, even to those who did not file a refund suit. Judge Richard Eaton at the Court of International Trade ordered the administration on Wednesday to begin refunding importers. Eaton set a hearing for Friday with questions about the refund process still unanswered. Justin Angotti, an associate in Reed Smith's international trade group, said he expects the government to challenge the order. "The government is expected to seek an appeal and a stay of Judge Eaton's order," he said. "If a refund process comes to be, importers will still need to jump through at least some hoops, and Customs will move slowly, or at least try to." Angotti said the judge "won't take well to needless delays." More than 2,000 companies, including major firms like Costco and FedEx, have f