Hoping for a tariff refund? Trump officials say they are waiting for lower courts to provide instructions. ‘They created the situation’

The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Donald Trump’s global tariffs didn’t include guidance on how to handle refunds, so administration officials said they will wait for lower courts to do that.

In an interview on Fox News Sunday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer was asked if the White House will fight efforts to seek compensation or pay out refunds.

He replied that it’s up to the courts, noting that the U.S. Court of International Trade has previously taken a strong hand in determining the process for refunds.

“So it’s a matter for the courts,” Greer added. “They created the situation, and we’ll follow whatever they say to do.”

That’s after Trump attempted to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for the first time as a vehicle for imposing tariffs when he unveiled his “Liberation Day” duties last year.

The tariffs were quickly challenged in court. While arguing the case last spring, Justice Department lawyers acknowledged that if the tariffs were deemed unlawful, then the government would issue refunds to the plaintiffs.

DOJ also made those assurances to argue that courts shouldn’t grant plaintiffs emergency relief from the tariffs and instead let them stand during the legal proceedings.

On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld lower-court decisions that the IEEPA tariffs were indeed illegal, prompting Trum...