A federal appeals court has denied the Trump administration's attempt to delay tariff refund litigation, ordering immediate resumption of legal proceedings. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit rejected the government's request for a four-month pause, allowing cases to proceed in the US Court of International Trade.

More than 2,000 tariff refund lawsuits have been filed, with small businesses leading the charge after the Supreme Court struck down Trump's emergency powers-based tariffs in February. The 6-3 ruling found the president's use of the 1977 law to impose global tariffs was unlawful, prompting the current legal battle over refunds.

The Justice Department had sought to extend the case hold for 90 days beyond the Supreme Court's typical 32-day closing period, arguing political branches needed time to consider options. The Federal Circuit's decision moves forward without written explanation or recorded dissent.