Clinton-Era Judge Orders Trump Administration to Begin Refunding More Than $130 Billion in Collected Tariffs

A federal judge appointed by President Clinton has ordered the Trump administration to begin refunding more than $130 billion in tariffs -- a staggering ruling that threatens to unravel the centerpiece of the president's trade agenda just days after he announced a new increase to 15 percent. The ruling adds a massive judicial obstacle to the tariff regime at the worst possible moment, as the administration simultaneously fights a war in Iran, faces a coalition of 24 state attorneys general suing over the levies, and watches the Dow plunge nearly 800 points. The refund order, if upheld on appeal, would represent one of the largest court-ordered returns of government revenue in American history and could fundamentally reshape the legal framework governing presidential tariff authority.