Judge Challenges Customs Over $10 Billion Tariff Refund Delays

Eaton expressed frustration with the government's decision to appeal his March 4 directive requiring full refunds of the duties. While he stopped short of issuing a new legal order, his criticism highlights the growing inequity inherent in the current claims process. Smaller enterprises, lacking the specialized customs brokers used by larger corporations, remain stuck at the back of the queue.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has initiated the refund process for a portion of the $90 billion already cleared for payment, focusing on less complex claims. However, the fate of $127 billion in total estimated refunds remains tangled in bureaucratic disputes. Officials argue that processing liquidated tariffs alongside simpler claims is logistically impossible, leaving the prospect of a class-action lawsuit as a potential path to break the stalemate.