Tariffy-ing

By Sydney Johnson

Courtesy of NPR

The Trump administration's tariffs were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision this week, costing American consumers and businesses billions. Despite this, consumers are not likely to receive compensation for the overturning of these policies.

The Supreme Court's ruling specifically held that the tariffs did not fall under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which allows the president to regulate imports but not to create tariffs that raise revenue for the federal government. 

"And if you do, it'll be pennies on the dollar," said Robert Shapiro, an international trade lawyer, according to NPR. Due to how the money was collected by the federal government, any refund, if any, would be given to businesses that raised prices to account for the tariffs.

Despite collecting around $117 billion in tariffs as of January 2025, ordinary buyers who foot the bill have no real way to receive compensation. The companies that had tariffs imposed on them paid the actual customs bill and raised retail prices for their customers, which has led some businesses to pursue refunds for the illegal tariffs.

Trump wants to implement 15% tariffs worldwide under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows him to “address certain fundamental international payment problems through surcharges and other special import restrictions,” according to the White House. 

While this does continue to impact businesses, it will likely still contribute to even higher prices for the average consumer.

“Even if they're just giving the money back to the businesses, who's gonna have money to pay into the businesses to spend on other things?” said Chelsea Williams, a first-year business major.