International Trade Court’s decision on Trump’s tariffs: Companies will have to return Rs 14.5 lakh crore of tariffs, Supreme Court has also reprimanded

The US International Trade Court ordered the Trump administration to return the tariff money imposed by President Donald Trump to the companies. Rs 10.79 lakh crore was recovered from tariffs till December and the total refund was Rs 14.5 lakh crore. Can reach. Judge Richard Eaton asked to remove the tariffs and recalculate the pending cases.

Trump had imposed tariffs on many countries under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act-1977. American companies challenged in court. On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court canceled the tariff and said that Congress has the right to decide the tariff, not the President. There was no clarity on refund then. Judge orders refund on Tennessee’s Atmus Filtration petition.

Clinton had appointed Judge Eaton, he will also hear tariff refund cases. Former President Bill Clinton had appointed Judge Eaton in 1999. Eaton said that he will hear the tariff refunds so that the refund process does not get complicated.

Trump government now has these 3 options

1. Appeal: The government should challenge in the higher court. 2. Stay: The government can ask for a temporary stay. 3. Delay: The importer gets 180 days after liquidation (final account) at Customs to file a claim/challenge. With this, the government can also postpone the refund for 6 months.

Supreme Court had reprimanded Trump, said- not in a state of war with every country

Trump had announced the global tariff in April last year. (file photo)

Earlier on February 20, the Supreme Court had reprimanded the Trump administration and said that America is not at war with every country in the world. However, three judges Justice Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh disagreed with the decision.

Kavanaugh wrote in his note that whether the tariff policy was sensible or not is a different question, but according to him it was legally valid. In his note, Kavanaugh also mentioned the tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil.

He wrote that these tariffs were imposed under sensitive issues related to foreign policy and national security.

There are a total of 9 judges in the US Supreme Court. Of these, 6 judges were appointed by Republican Presidents, while 3 judges were appointed by Democratic Presidents. All three judges who voted against the decision were appointed by Republican presidents.

Trump increased global tariff to 15% in 24 hours

Angered by the Supreme Court’s decision, Trump had announced to increase the global tariff from 10% to 15% the very next day. Trump had signed an order and imposed new tariffs on countries around the world. This 15% tariff has come into effect from February 24.

Earlier yesterday he also criticized the judges who declared the tariffs illegal. Trump had said- I am ashamed of some judges of the court. They are a disgrace to the country, they don’t have the courage to do the right thing for our country.

Trump imposed tariffs using a 49-year-old law

At the center of Trump’s tariff dispute is a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This law was made in 1977.

Its purpose was that if there was any serious threat to the country such as a war-like situation, a major economic threat from a foreign enemy or an extraordinary international crisis, then the President could be given certain special powers.

Under these powers, the President can ban foreign transactions, control them or implement some economic decisions immediately. Trump had taken the help of IEEPA to impose tariffs.

Lower courts declared the tariffs illegal

Earlier, lower courts (Court of International Trade and Federal Circuit Court) had declared the tariffs illegal. He believed that IEEPA does not provide such broad power to impose tariffs.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in November 2025, where the judges expressed doubt about the arguments presented by Trump. Despite the Court’s 6-3 majority, the Justices asked whether the President could impose tariffs on such a large scale without Congress’s approval, since tariffs are a form of tax and are the responsibility of Congress.

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Also read this news related to Trump’s tariffs…

Recovery of Trump’s emergency tariff stopped: Trump’s threat to countries that back out of the agreement, said – don’t play games, I will impose higher tariffs

The US government will stop collecting the emergency tariffs imposed by President Trump from today. At the same time, US President Donald Trump on Monday warned the countries that withdrew from the tariff agreement. Read the full news…