TRUMP, WITH HIS ILLEGAL TARIFFS, STOLE OUR MONEY; WE’RE OWED REFUNDS
QUICK READ: After the Supreme Court held that the Trump administration stole $175 billion in tariff revenue, the Court of International Trade ordered it refunded with interest to all affected importers. It said nothing, however American families who were paying higher prices for goods subjected to Trump’s tariffs. Congress must correct this massive injustice by directly compensating, or giving tax credits to, working class families equal to the almost $2000 the average American family paid in higher prices.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
Almost immediately after SCOTUS struck down Trump’s global tariffs, without guidance on who was entitled to compensation, he illegally imposed 15% across-the-board 150-day tariffs under another statute and is contemplating additional ways to push prices even higher.
Trump’s sweeping tariffs drove up the price of everyday goods, acting like a hidden tax on American families and small businesses—amounting to the largest tax increase since 1993. Since lower-income households spend a greater fraction of their incomes and buy more goods and fewer services than higher-income ones, these tariffs placed a much larger relative cost burden on them.
The Court of International Trade (CIT), over Trump’s objections, has directed the government to refund the approximately $175 billion in revenue with interest accruing at around $650 million/month to all importers paying the illegal tariffs, while saying nothing about making suffering American consumers whole.
Although the Congressional Budget Office found consumers effectively foot the entire tariff bill, or even more, due to markups leveraged by importers and distributers, without transparency determining each family’s outlay or the portion of an item’s cost covering the tariff levy—which Amazon was planning to calculate until Trump’s threats nixed it—is impossible.
2000+ wealthy companies are first in line for billions in refunds, further enriching themselves, while the average American family, which paid nearly $2000, will get nothing.
Only Congress can correct this massive injustice by directly compensating those families most negatively affected. Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act (S.4093) and American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act (HR.7865) are good first steps.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act [S.4093] or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act [S.4093] or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the Tariff Refunds for Working Families Act [S.4093] or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act [HR.7865]) or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act [HR.7865]) or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act [HR.7865]) or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act [HR.7865]) or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Oregon City office: 503-387-8651 |DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act [HR.7865]) or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The Trump administration stole $175 billion from the American people when it imposed its illegal tariffs SCOTUS recently rescinded. Right now, they only way those affected can be repaid is by filing a claim in the Court of International Trade—which is impossible for consumers to do. Since only Congress can correct this massive injustice and prevent future similar follies, I implore you to co-sponsor and push for the American Consumer Tariff Rebate Act [HR.7865]) or similar legislation providing direct compensation for working class families who suffer most from these illegal tax hikes and to immediately revoke or put guardrails on Trump’s unilateral authority to impose them.
FURTHER READING
Congressional Democrats say Trump tariffs will cost US household more than $2,500 this year
New ‘tariff rebates’ worth hundreds—or thousands—proposed: How would they work
Trump’s tariffs were ruled illegal. Where’s the refund of $166 billion—plus interest?
Businesses Push for Tariff Refunds as Trump Aides Hint at Fight to Come
How Tariff Secrecy Could Cost You A Refund
Will consumers and businesses ever see refunds for tariffs?
Fresh Off a Supreme Court Loss, Trump Could Face New Challenges on Tariffs
