Thousands of companies have surged to file claims as the US government’s long-awaited refund portal for wrongly collected tariffs finally went live, sparking a frantic race to recover billions. Early users described a system that is holding up under pressure but not without hiccups.
While the platform has not crashed, heavy traffic has caused delays, with large uploads sometimes rejected. The system was created by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection following a court order to refund as much as $166 billion to importers after tariffs imposed under Donald Trump were struck down by the U.S.
Supreme Court earlier this year. Businesses had feared technical chaos, but initial signs suggest the platform is largely coping. The scramble comes as firms try to secure refunds quickly, unsure whether early submissions will be processed faster. More than 56,000 importers have already completed the required steps, accounting for roughly $127 billion in potential repayments, though over 330,000 businesses were affected by the tariffs.
Despite the relatively smooth rollout, frustration lingers. Many have questioned why companies must apply to recover funds already deemed unlawfully collected. The portal launch marks the latest chapter in a turbulent trade saga that has rattled global supply chains, with businesses still grappling with the fallout from shifting US tariff policies.