Key control
- The data of the Treasury Department showed that the United States raised $ 30 billion in tariff revenues in August, until the $ 7 billion raised in August 2024, before President Trump instituted his wide tariff regime.
- For the year, tariff revenues are $ 95 billion higher than 2024.
- The secretary of the Treasury, Scott Besent, said that a judicial ruling against tariffs could force the government to issue reimbursements.
The income of President Donald Trump’s rates increased in August, but it is not clear if the federal government can maintain the funds, since a judicial case challenges whether the president’s tariff policies are legal.
The tariffs raised $ 30 billion in income in August, and a total of $ 165 billion in tariff revenues have been collected so far this year, according to data published by the Treasury Department. In comparison, tariffs in August 2024 contributed $ 7 billion in revenues, for a total of $ 70 billion of $ 70 billion in the same period.
That means that the United States has raised $ 95 billion in new tariffs so far this year. However, the Trump administration may have to reimburse some or all these funds if a recent decision against tariffs is maintained.
Besent sees reimbursements if tariffs lose in court
A Federal Court of Appeals earlier this month found that Trump did not have the authority to use the international economic emergency powers to impose rates. The case is being appealed to the United States Supreme Court, and a senior US official warned that a judicial loss could mean that the government would have to reimburse that income.
“We would have to reimburse approximately half of the rates that would be terrible for the treasure,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Besent, “Meet The Press” of NBC “
In a judicial presentation, Besent said that between $ 750 billion and $ 1 billion in rates could be raised in June 2026, which is when the Supreme Court is likely to issue its ruling. The court agreed to carry out an accelerated review of Trump tariffs, with arguments established for November.
The government has other legal routes for rates
But even if the Supreme Court governs against Trump’s tariffs, it does not mean that they would leave, Jeff Buchbinder, Equity’s main strategist for LPL Financial. The Trump administration has several other legal strategies that it can continue to restore tariffs, he wrote. Nor is it clear if the court would require the United States to reimburse the tariffs that have already been collected.
“Regardless of how the tallest United States court rules, it hopes that most current rates will remain in place,” Buchbinder wrote.
Not all rates are affected by the court ruling. The “reciprocal tariffs” that have been established in many commercial partners, and tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico aimed at fentanyl are those challenged in court. The specific tariffs of the sector on things such as foreign cars, steel and copper will remain in place, since they were imposed using a different legal justification and are not part of the judicial case.
