A double-win for American business

Federal courts questioning Trump-era tariffs, raising the possibility that U.S. importers could see a second round of refunds

Zhang Fengguo/Xinhua via Getty Images

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American businesses locked in a win earlier this year when the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s universal tariffs as illegal, setting up a time-consuming refund process that led to initial payments landing in bank accounts this week. 

They’re on their way to a second victory, if recent events are a guide.

Last week, the Court of International Trade knocked down the 10% global tariff that the White House imposed only days after their stinging defeat at the Supreme Court. It invalidated the second wave of universal tariffs and said they weren’t justified under a 1970s trade law cited for a distinct economic crisis.

Federal judges kept the ruling narrow and only paused tariffs on the plaintiffs in the case, made up of two small businesses and the state of Washington. The tariff’s broad reach remains in force. However,........

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