President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would look out for companies that do not apply for tariff refunds.
During an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Trump was pressed on a number of companies, including Apple, whose CEO the president has praised, and Amazon, which anchor Joe Kernen said had not yet filed for reimbursements because they fear offending Trump. The president responded by complimenting the companies and saying he would “remember” businesses that choose not to apply.
“From what I understand, part of the reason that they have waited is because there is a worry about, frankly, offending you. Would you find it offensive for them to try to collect a refund?” Kernen asked.
Trump replied: “It’s brilliant if they don’t do that.”
“Actually, if they don’t do that, they’ve got to know me very well,” the president said. “I’m very honored by what you just said. If they don’t do that, I’ll remember them.”
Monday was the first day companies that paid tariffs imposed by Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which were later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, could start applying for refunds. Businesses seeking refunds can submit their reimbursement applications through Customs and Border Protection’s online portal. The system could process as much as $175 billion in tariff refunds.
Trump has railed against the court for striking down his ability to use IEEPA to collect tariffs, and not adding a caveat to the ruling allowing the U.S. to keep revenue from tariffs that have already been collected. He reiterated complaints on Tuesday, after justices issued the 6-3 decision on Feb. 20.
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“All they had to do is add one sentence, just one sentence, and that’s you don’t have to pay anything taken in thus far back, but because they didn’t add … we have to pay back $165 billion they could have with a little one sentence. You don’t have to pay back tariffs that have already been received,” Trump said.
“So, I’m not happy with the Supreme Court, I’ll be honest with you,” he added. “I will tell you that because I’m looking to make this country strong, the Supreme Court could have helped us.”