Supreme Court voids tariffs, leaving $4.2 billion question for Ohio
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With the Supreme Court striking down many of President Trump's tariffs, the question in Ohio and around the country is who — if anyone — gets the money back.
Why it matters: Trade Partnership Worldwide estimates $126 billion is at stake.
- Those tariffs likely made goods of all kinds more expensive as businesses passed higher costs onto everyday Americans. Friday's SCOTUS ruling could lead to a chaotic refund process — and it's unclear who gets to pocket that cash.
State of play: In its ruling, the Supreme Court left that question to the Trump administration. "The Court says nothing today about whether, and if so how, the government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers," Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in his dissent.
- Trump said Saturday he would hike global tariffs to 15% — the highest limit allowed under a separate trade law.
Zoom in: Trade Partnership Worldwide estimates Ohio businesses paid $4.2 billion in tariffs from February to December 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
- The high court rejected tariffs imposed under IEEPA.
What they're saying: Ohio lawmakers were split along party lines after the ruling.
- "This ruling confirms what I've been saying all along: the President's chaotic tariffs were equal parts reckless and lawless," U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Warrensville Heights), wrote in a statement.
- U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) posted on social media that the "outrageous ruling handcuffs our fight against unfair trade that has devastated American workers for decades."
U.S. Senate candidate Sherrod Brown, meanwhile, has called for a $1,336 refund for every Ohio household.
Reality check: Economists at TD Securities view the refund process as "highly unclear" and estimate it could take up to 18 months as cases make their way through the federal court system.
The bottom line: A lot of people around the country are due some amount of cash back, but no one has any idea just yet who will get that money or when they might see it.