Ahead of Tariff Refund Portal Launch, Ranking Member Markey Urges Big Businesses to Pay Back Customers and Small Businesses for Trump’s Illegal Tariff Taxes

U.S. consumers and businesses paid up to 90% of Trump's tariffs, may be owed at least $166 billion in tariff refunds, with interest

(Washington, April 20) - Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today is again urging Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to implement a simple, automatic refund process and calling on the largest retailers and shippers in the United States to pass any tariff refunds on to the consumers and small businesses that bore the brunt of President Trump's International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariff taxes, which were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in February.

Ranking Member Markey's call for action comes ahead of the Trump administration's planned Monday launch of CBP's online refund payment system-the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries, or CAPE-which requires U.S. businesses to request refunds for Trump's illegal tariff taxes. Last week, CBP acknowledged that approximately 20% of importers had not enrolled in CAPE.

"After more than a year, the Trump administration will begin issuing tariff refunds it illegally took from small businesses and the American people. But because of this Administration's shortsighted decision to not issue automatic refunds, it will be big businesses that benefit the most," said Ranking Member Markey. "American small businesses and families deserve to get their money back with interest. Big businesses that get refunds need to get the money back to their customers; 'everyday low prices' is not the way to do it. There must be no further delay or complicated hoops to jump through. CBP must ensure quick and easy refunds without further documentation. Big businesses must help ease the ongoing affordability crisis by passing on any refund savings they receive to customers and small businesses who paid them rather than waiting around for a rebate that may never come."

Ranking Member Markey is leading the fight to lower costs for American small businesses, workers, and families. He is fighting to deliver immediate and automatic refunds to small businesses and prevent the Trump administration from placing more tariff taxes on the American people.

• Earlier this month, Ranking Member Markey, Leader Schumer, and Finance Committee Ranking Member Wyden released a report on Trump's harmful "Liberation Day" tariffs one year later.

• In March, Ranking Member Markey led several Senate Democrats in writing to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney S. Scott to call for an automatic tariff refund process that does not create more pain for American small businesses and families.

• Earlier in March, Ranking Member Markey wrote to Amazon, FedEx, Wal-Mart, Costco, DHL, and UPS, urging the companies to pass tariff refunds on to consumers and small businesses. In their responses, companies offered no firm commitment to refund their customers beyond what is legally required.

• Also in March, Ranking Member Markey, alongside Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats, introduced the Small Business Liberation 2.0 Act to protect small business owners, workers, and consumers from further tariff-related economic harm under Trump's Section 122 tariffs.

• Previously, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to Trump administration officials renewing his call for a tariff refund process and demanding an investigation into reports that Wall Street traders are taking advantage of Main Street by paying America's small businesses pennies on the dollar for tariff rebates in the absence of an official refund process.

• In February, Ranking Member Markey introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 with Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) to require full refunds of Trump's illegal tariffs after they were struck down by the Supreme Court.

• Earlier in February, Ranking Member Markey applauded the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision to strike down Trump's illegal tariffs, held a press conference with Massachusetts small business owners, and called for immediate refunds for America's small businesses.

• Previously, Ranking Member Markey released a report detailing how Trump's affordability crisis, including his devastating tariffs, are hurting main streets and working families across America.

• In December 2025, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference on the affordability crisis facing American small businesses and released new state-by-state data on total tariffs paid by small businesses from March to September 2025.

• In November 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and Acting Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) Pierre Yared to renew his call for an equitable tariff refund process for small businesses.

• Also in November 2025, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference to highlight the voices of small business owners impacted by Trump's devastating tariffs, and to call on the Supreme Court to strike down the tariffs.

• Last Fall, Ranking Member Markey held a press conference to highlight the voices of small business owners impacted by Trump's tariffs. Ranking Member Markey introduced the Small Business RELIEF Act in September 2025, which exempts small businesses from the "Liberation Day" tariffs and requires the President to provide refunds to small businesses who have paid them.

• In August 2025, Ranking Member Markey sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and CEA Chair Stephen Miran, calling on their respective agencies to establish and publicize procedures for refunding tariffs to American businesses.

• In May 2025, Ranking Member Markey first attempted to pass the?Small Business Liberation Act, legislation that would exempt small businesses from the broad, reckless global tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Ranking Member Markey returned to the Senate floor in an effort to pass the Small Business Liberation Act in August. Republicans blocked his legislation on the Senate floor on both occasions.

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Permalink: https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/4/ahead-of-tariff-refund-portal-launch-ranking-member-markey-urges-big-businesses-to-pay-back-customers-and-small-businesses-for-trump-s-illegal-tariff-taxes