Tariff Refunds Are Flowing. The Real Fight Is Over Who Gets Them

Trade litigation attorney Ashley Akers was quoted in the Daily Journal's Capital & Counsel newsletter commenting on the progress of tariff refunds. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues processing refund claims stemming from fees paid under International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) measures struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year, and the agency's executive director of trade programs reported last week that about $71 billion in refunds has been submitted to the U.S. Department of the Treasury for disbursement. Ms. Akers told Daily Journal CBP is making progress accepting additions to its Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system and "it's been going more smoothly than anticipated for a lot of importers," despite hiccups along the way and outstanding issues that remain.