Supreme Court Decision Opens Door for Bay Area Importers to Seek Refunds of Unlawful Tariffs

West Coast businesses importing goods through the Port of San Francisco may be able to recover tariffs imposed under the IEEPA.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, March 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision allows importers to seek refunds of tariffs unlawfully imposed by the Trump Administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) on foreign goods that entered the United States after April 2, 2025. The decision allows businesses who paid the unlawful tariffs on the importation of goods from virtually every country around the world to recover the payments they made to the federal government.

In Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, No. 24-1287 (U.S. 2026), the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs under that statute. The decision found that the tariffs imposed by the administration beginning in April 2025 are unlawful. Even as the Court determined the tariffs were unlawful, it did not create a direct refund process. Instead, it left those decisions to the U.S. Court of International Trade and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. As a result, many businesses may need to take legal action or pursue administrative remedies in order to recover duties that were paid to the federal government.

Lonnie Finkel, an attorney in Finkel Law Group’s San Francisco office, says the ruling creates an important opportunity for the adversely affected companies to seek recompense for unlawfully paid tariffs. It also, however, raises procedural issues that require many companies to take prompt attention to protect their interests. Importers seeking refunds may need to pursue claims in the U.S. Court of International Trade or file administrative protests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, depending on the status of their import entries.

Importers must also be mindful of strict filing deadlines. Certain judicial claims must be filed within two years from payment of the tariffs, and administrative protests related to tariff payments may be subject to a 180-day filing deadline after liquidation of entries. Companies that delay evaluating their options and acting to protect their financial interests could risk losing the ability to recover the funds they should have never paid to the federal government in the first place. A lot is at stake.

Finkel Law Group is actively evaluating and pursuing claims for importers seeking refunds of tariffs unlawfully collected by the federal government under IEEPA. The firm represents businesses in complex litigation and government-related disputes, and has considerable experience helping companies recover funds that were improperly collected by federal and state governmental authorities.

“Many businesses paid substantial tariffs that are now recoverable after the Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources,” said Lonnie Finkel. “Importers should review their entries and determine whether they have valid claims for refunds they can pursue in federal court or through administrative proceedings. Acting quickly can be important because of the applicable filing deadlines and statutes of limitation are fast approaching.”

Companies that imported goods during the period of time when these tariffs were in effect, and believe they may be entitled to refunds, are encouraged to contact Finkel Law Group to discuss their options.

About Finkel Law Group P.C.
Finkel Law Group P.C. is a business law firm with offices in San Francisco, Oakland, and Washington, D.C. The firm represents companies in litigation, regulatory matters, and business disputes, including claims involving recovery of government fees, taxes, and tariffs. You can find out more about the firm at www.finkellawgroup.com. The San Francisco office is located at One Sansome Street, Suite 3500, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Lonnie Finkel
Finkel Law Group P.C.
+1 415-252-9600
email us here

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