Supreme Court’s tariff decision still leaves a ‘mess’ for companies trying to grab refunds

By Peter Crabb and Alison Larson
The Conversation US
March 26, 2026
Category: Business & Politics
Region: United States

US companies stung by President Trump’s emergency tariffs had hoped for relief when the US Supreme Court ruled in their favor. But settling on a remedy – namely, rebate checks from the government – may be an even bigger headache. Fresh wrinkles are prompting businesses to take different routes as they try to recoup money, with many opting to sue to improve their odds. These lawsuits are also underscoring the complex ways that tariffs worked their way through corporate accounting. In some cases, their cost was a clear line item; in others, the impact was muddier – say, through changed supply lines or selective increases in retail pricing. And some have backed off from a legal fight altogether and sold their refund rights to investment firms, often at a deep discount, figuring that getting something is better than risk getting nothing. …Consider the different approaches taken by FedEx and the retail chain Costco.

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