Washington, DC – Americans paying higher costs thanks to congressional Republicans’ illegal tariffs won’t be getting any refunds, according to new reporting by the BBC. The tariff refund portal launched this week only applies to importers, offering no relief to working families crushed by a year and a half of higher prices. The reporting also highlights significant barriers that have made it difficult for small businesses to apply for their refunds.
Republicans’ tariffs have cost working families more than $1,700 on average. Small business importers have had to pay $306,000 on average because of the tariffs. Despite this, nearly every Republican in Congress repeatedly voted to let the tariffs continue. Now, big corporations are set to get refunds, but the very people most harmed by Republicans’ cost-raising policies won’t get anything. While small business importers can apply for refunds, many don’t have the resources to navigate the refund process, and these refunds do little to undo the harm that tariffs have already done. Working Americans and small businesses will continue to pay the price, but large corporations get the payout.
“Working Americans have been crushed by Republicans’ tariffs. Costs have soared, small businesses and farmers have lost business, and many have been forced to lay off workers or shut their doors completely. But who stands to gain the most from these refunds? Large corporations who passed higher costs off to everyone else,” said Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director Leor Tal. “Even when they’re refunding money for their illegal tariffs, congressional Republicans can’t help but put corporations and the ultra-rich over their constituents.”
BBC: Trump tariff refunds begin but consumers likely to miss out
Key Points:
- In what is to be the biggest repayment programme in history, companies can apply online for money they were charged under the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs – plus interest – to be returned.
- But some individual consumers, who were hit by the tariffs indirectly through higher prices, are not expected to be compensated.
- Dan Anthony, executive director at We Pay the Tariffs, said: “As expected, today’s refund portal launch is a mixed bag for small businesses.”
- He added that businesses are far more concerned about the potential for new tariffs, as proposed by the Trump administration, which he said could wipe-out any refunds received.
- A major issue with the process has been concerns raised by individual shoppers who faced higher prices as a result of Trump’s tariffs yet have no means to claim compensation themselves.
- The BBC spoke to lamp-maker Sue Johnson earlier this month, who said Trump’s tariffs prompted her supplier to double the cost of a key material used in her designs.
- She expects no relief from the refund process.
- The tariffs also often triggered other kinds of costs, forcing businesses to take on debt to pay for the duties and leading to harder-to-quantify hits like lost sales.
- Officials from the Trump administration have made it clear they do not expect consumers to benefit directly from the refunds.
- In February, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, suggested it was unlikely consumers would benefit.
- “I got a feeling the American people won’t see it,” he said.
To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact press@unrigoureconomy.com
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About Unrig Our Economy
Unrig Our Economy is a national campaign to fix the rules of our economy to make it work for working people. We know that when the middle class does well, all of us do well — which is why we’re fighting on behalf of working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable.