Judge Halts Tariff Calculations, Paves Way for Shipper Refunds

Key Details A federal judge has ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop calculating Trump's emergency tariffs on import paperwork following the Supreme Court's ruling striking down the tariffs as unlawful. Judge Richard Eaton of the Federal Trade Court in New York issued the March 4 order, questioning why the government continued the calculations after the high court's decision. What's Next The judge also directed officials to recalculate duties that had already passed the tariff calculation stage, removing Trump's contested tariffs from those entries. Judge Eaton confirmed he will oversee all thousands of refund lawsuits currently filed in trade court, centralizing the legal process. Why It Matters The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 last month that President Trump unlawfully used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose reciprocal tariffs on incoming goods. This ruling and subsequent court order should accelerate refund timelines for trucking companies and shippers who paid the disputed duties, reducing administrative burden on both industry and government.