Sponsors (5)
The bill speeds and simplifies refunds of unlawfully collected import duties—benefiting importers (especially small firms) and potentially consumers—but increases near‑term federal costs, strains CBP operations, and creates enforcement challenges for passing refunds through to customers.
Importers—especially small businesses—get automatic refunds with interest and reliquidation to correct duties unlawfully imposed, reducing direct financial losses.
Small importers face fewer administrative hurdles because CBP would process refunds without requiring claim filings or extensive documentation.
Consumers and middle‑class families could receive relief if businesses pass refunded duties through to customers, lowering prices paid retroactively.
Taxpayers and the federal budget face higher near‑term outlays because the government must pay refunds and interest, potentially requiring offsets or increased costs elsewhere.
CBP operations and federal staff could be strained by rapid processing deadlines and transitional changes, risking slowed service, implementation disruption, and reduced confidence in the refund system.
Requiring businesses to pass refunds to customers may be hard to enforce and could create disputes and additional compliance burdens for small businesses and consumers.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires CBP to automatically refund, with interest, all duties imposed under IEEPA and reliquidate entries, prioritizing small businesses and acting within 30 days.
Official title: Provide for the refund of duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Introduced April 21, 2026 by Ronald Lee Wyden · Last progress April 21, 2026
Requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to automatically refund, with interest, all import duties that were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) for any covered articles and to reliquidate prior entries to the duty rate that would have applied without those IEEPA duties. CBP must prioritize refunds to small businesses, cannot require an explicit refund request or supporting documentation, and must act within 30 days after enactment. The measure also expresses Congress's view that CBP should process these refunds promptly, avoid adding burdensome requirements (particularly for individuals and small businesses), and that businesses that passed on IEEPA duties to customers should pass refunds through to those customers.