Federal Appeals Court Blocks Trump’s Bid to Pause Tariff Refund Litigation

A US appeals court on Monday rejected a request from Donald Trump to delay court proceedings tied to tariff refunds, clearing the way for the case to move forward at the lower court level.

The decision follows last month’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States, which struck down Trump’s global tariffs — a cornerstone of his economic agenda — prompting a complex legal battle as businesses demand their money back.

By late 2025, the now-invalid tariffs had brought in more than $130 billion for the US government.

The administration had sought a pause of up to four months before refund cases resume at the United States Court of International Trade. But the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied that request in an order issued Monday.

Small businesses involved in the case said in a court filing that the proposed delay was “plainly unreasonable.”

“This Court should not accept the government’s invitation to grant forms of relief the Supreme Court obviously found inappropriate,” they argued.

The high court’s ruling leaves Trump’s sector-specific duties untouched.

Companies Line Up for Repayment

Trump’s global tariffs have led to a surge in lawsuits.

According to the Liberty Justice Center, which represents several of the plaintiffs, more than 900 refund claims have been submitted in federal court.

Major corporations such as FedEx and Costco are among those seeking repayment, with Costco filing its case before the Supreme Court ruling.

Newer cases have also been brought by Dyson and L’Oréal. Analysts estimate that more than 1,000 businesses may now be part of the refund effort.

The Federal Circuit had previously ruled in August that many of Trump’s tariffs were illegal but postponed sending the matter back to the lower court while Trump pursued an appeal at the Supreme Court. That pause was lifted on Monday.

The Liberty Justice Center said last week:

“For months, the government insisted there was no irreparable harm because businesses could always be made whole through refunds.

The government cannot have it both ways. It cannot argue there is no harm because refunds are available — and then delay when the time comes to return the money.”

After the Supreme Court invalidated his country-based tariffs, Trump relied on another legal authority to impose a fresh 10-percent import duty, warning it could rise to 15 percent.

Responding on social media Friday, Trump wrote:

“Is a Rehearing or Readjudication of this case possible???”

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