Over the past year, Florida Daily has reported on multiple manufacturers across the state that have been significantly affected by tariffs imposed during the Trump administration.
Lake Ray, President of the First Coast Manufacturers Association, said one of their members experienced a tariff increase that went from $5k to $50k in one month.
But relief is on the way.
Starting this week, Florida business owners affected by the higher costs can begin claiming refunds for more than $166 billion in tariffs that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional.
The tariff on Florida businesses ranged from 10% to 50%.
The White House sought to delay the refunds, but in March, the Court of International Trade ruled that the Trump administration had to begin issuing refunds.
Why this matters now
• Importers can finally file refund claims through a new Customs and Border Protection portal
• Approved refunds may be paid within 60–90 days, injecting significant cash back into supply chains
• Major companies, such as FedEx and Costco have already sued to secure their share
• Consumers have no direct path to reimbursement, leaving brands to decide whether, and how, to pass savings down
Estimated refund amounts for some of the nation’s largest corporations illustrate the potential scale of reimbursements.
- Walmart may receive approximately $10.2 billion
Target may receive approximately $2.2 billion
Nike may receive approximately $1 billion
Gap may receive approximately $400 million
Kohls may receive approximately $550 million
Home Depot may receive approximately $540 million
As the refund process begins, the broader economic impact will depend on how quickly funds are distributed and whether businesses pass any of the recovered costs along to consumers. For Florida manufacturers, the reimbursements offer a measure of relief after months of elevated expenses, but they also underscore the lingering uncertainty that trade policy shifts can create across supply chains.
