Tariff Refund Could Pose ‘Administrative Problem’ for White House

The Supreme Court is weighing the legality of the White House’s wide-ranging tariffs. But if the justices decide against the Trump administration, a ruling requiring repayment of the duties would be a major challenge, the president’s top economic adviser said in an interview Sunday (Dec. 21) with CBS News. “We really expect the Supreme Court is going to find with us,” Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told the network’s “Face the Nation.” But if the high court rules against the administration, it would be “pretty unlikely that they’re going to call for widespread refunds because it would be an administrative problem to get those refunds out there,” Hassett added. The Supreme Court is considering a challenge to the tariffs, filed by a dozen states, a wine importer and an educational toy manufacturer. Hundreds of small businesses separately joined amicus filings that call the administration’s actions unlawful, arguing that the tariffs have forced them to raise prices and cut staffing. President Donald Trump has claimed he has the authority to institute tariffs under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which grants gives executive authority to “regulate” the “importation” of goods from foreign powers or individuals in response to an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to national security, foreign policy or the economy. As covered here last month, justices both liberal and conservatives displayed skepticism about the administration’s rationale behind the levies. If the court were to require refunds, “The people who actually paid for the good, the…

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