Kamal Ghorui
US President Donald Trump’s administration is seeking to delay legal proceedings related to tariff refunds, a week after the Supreme Court struck down his sweeping global duties, according to a court filing on Friday.The Supreme Court’s ruling marked a major setback for Trump’s signature economic policy and opened the door to a complex and legally challenging refund process, as importers prepare to sue for repayments.
In its filing before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the government sought a delay of up to four months before refund litigation resumes at the US Court of International Trade.“In a case on review from a federal court, the Supreme Court sends down its judgment 32 days after entry of judgment,” AFP reported quoting the government in its submission. It further argued that the court should grant an additional delay of “90 days to allow the political branches an opportunity to consider options.”“Complexity in the future counsels appropriately careful process, not breakneck speed,” the government said.Earlier in the day, Trump also criticised the Supreme Court’s decision, warning it could result in massive payouts.Posting on Truth Social, the MAGA Supremo said, “The recent decision of the United States Supreme Court concerning TARIFFS could allow for Hundreds of Billions of Dollars to be returned to Countries and Companies that have been ‘ripping off’ the United States of America for many years, and now, according to this Decision, could actually continue to do so, at an even increased level.”“I am sure that the Supreme Court did not have this in mind! It doesn’t make sense that Countries and Companies that took advantage of us for decades, receiving Billions and Billions of Dollars that they should not have been allowed to receive, would now be entitled to an undeserved ‘windfall,” he said.He also questioned the possibility of further legal action, asking, “Is a Rehearing or Readjudication of this case possible???”The legal battle began after the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in August last year that many of Trump’s tariffs were illegal, but sent the question of refunds back to the Court of International Trade. The appeals court paused issuing its mandate while Trump appealed to the Supreme Court.Last week, the top court by a 6–3 majority ruled that Trump had exceeded his authority in imposing broad global tariffs, striking them down.Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that the Constitution does not grant the executive unilateral authority to levy taxes, saying the framers did not vest taxing power in the presidency.However, the decision did not affect sector-specific duties on products such as steel and automobiles.Within hours of the ruling, Trump invoked a different law to impose a new 10% tariff on imports into the United States, later raising it to 15%.
