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The government has launched the “CAPE Portal,” an online system where companies can file claims for tariff refunds.CAPE, which went live Monday morning, follows the Supreme Court’s ruling that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs were unconstitutional. Refunds could be issued within 60 to 90 days once claims are approved.Trade experts say the rollout of the portal received a large response with many filing thousands of claims at all once.”We saw that there were importers, some multinational importers, who were successfully submitting thousands of entries through CAPE processing for their refunds,” Lenny Feldman, managing partner at STR Trade Lenny Feldman said. “It is going to address, as we know, over $120 billion in tariffs initially potentially get us up to about $170 billion so this is quite an undertaking.”Small businesses and consumers that absorbed the costs may see a more indirect, complex process to get the refunds, according to experts.Some companies have promised to refund money and lower prices for customers as an act of goodwill.But many are not waiting and instead have filed class-action lawsuits against companies, legally forcing them to surrender tariff costs. “A lot of small businesses just paid higher wholesale prices instead of, like, direct tariffs, so they were impacted by the tariffs, but it’s the importers that are going to get the check,” Main Street Alliance executive director Richard Trent said. “This is just another example of how so often Main Street is left holding the bag in matters that inject uncertainty into the larger economy.”Consumers, who lack receipts or proof of paying tariffs, are also unlikely to qualify for refunds. “We’re still in a very tariff-heavy environment, so I don’t want the consumers of the country, of the world really, to get overly excited. I would curb that enthusiasm a bit,” Feldman said. While the CAPE Portal is now live, the Department of Justice has until June 6 to appeal the Supreme Court ruling. Trade experts warn that if the government files an appeal, it would freeze the refund process, potentially delaying refunds to businesses and consumers.Watch the latest on President Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs:
The government has launched the “CAPE Portal,” an online system where companies can file claims for tariff refunds.
CAPE, which went live Monday morning, follows the Supreme Court’s ruling that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs were unconstitutional.
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Refunds could be issued within 60 to 90 days once claims are approved.
Trade experts say the rollout of the portal received a large response with many filing thousands of claims at all once.
“We saw that there were importers, some multinational importers, who were successfully submitting thousands of entries through CAPE processing for their refunds,” Lenny Feldman, managing partner at STR Trade Lenny Feldman said. “It is going to address, as we know, over $120 billion in tariffs initially potentially get us up to about $170 billion so this is quite an undertaking.”
Small businesses and consumers that absorbed the costs may see a more indirect, complex process to get the refunds, according to experts.
Some companies have promised to refund money and lower prices for customers as an act of goodwill.
But many are not waiting and instead have filed class-action lawsuits against companies, legally forcing them to surrender tariff costs.
“A lot of small businesses just paid higher wholesale prices instead of, like, direct tariffs, so they were impacted by the tariffs, but it’s the importers that are going to get the check,” Main Street Alliance executive director Richard Trent said. “This is just another example of how so often Main Street is left holding the bag in matters that inject uncertainty into the larger economy.”
Consumers, who lack receipts or proof of paying tariffs, are also unlikely to qualify for refunds.
“We’re still in a very tariff-heavy environment, so I don’t want the consumers of the country, of the world really, to get overly excited. I would curb that enthusiasm a bit,” Feldman said.
While the CAPE Portal is now live, the Department of Justice has until June 6 to appeal the Supreme Court ruling.
Trade experts warn that if the government files an appeal, it would freeze the refund process, potentially delaying refunds to businesses and consumers.
Watch the latest on President Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs:
