The Trump administration is seeking a four-month delay in refunding importers billions in tariffs recently struck down by the Supreme Court, according to a Justice Department filing. The government wants to wait until court proceedings formally close before addressing how to return the $170 billion in contested duties.

DOJ lawyers argue that rushing the refund process would be premature, citing the complexity of handling such a large-scale repayment. They point to earlier mass refund cases that took years to resolve and claim companies won't be harmed by waiting since monetary damages can be remedied with interest. The administration successfully delayed refund payments during the legal challenge, telling the trade court that importers would "assuredly receive payment with interest" if they won.

This latest move has drawn criticism from companies seeking refunds. Liberty Justice Center's Sara Albrecht argues the government is contradicting itself by claiming no harm exists while simultaneously delaying repayment. The dispute highlights tensions between the administration's desire to maintain tariff revenue and importers' demands for immediate reimbursement of funds they argue were collected without proper authority. With over 2,000 related lawsuits filed, the refund question remains unresolved as courts determine the next procedural steps.