It’s been a busy week on the tariff front, and this is HFA’s third advocacy update for home furnishings retailers as developments continue to unfold, an indication of how significant we believe these changes are for our members. The Trump Administration’s appeal to the Supreme Court on IEEPA-related refunds has created added uncertainty, but one point remains clear: importers should file their IEEPA refund claims as soon as possible.
For entries liquidated less than 80 days ago or not yet liquidated, the appeal is not expected to have a meaningful immediate impact. Customs is continuing to issue refunds on those duties at a steady pace.
That said, delaying action creates real risk. Importers who wait may see more entries fall into a legal gray zone and could lose access to potential refunds.
Here’s what retailers and importers should know now:
- Less than 80 days since liquidation, or not yet liquidated: File refund claims ASAP. Customs is still processing these refunds.
- Liquidated 81–179 days ago: Review entry status immediately. Importers should strongly consider filing a formal protest with U.S. Customs to preserve refund rights.
- Liquidated 180+ days ago: The main option may be joining a class-action lawsuit. This path can be costly, and the outcome is uncertain, but it may be the only remaining avenue to protect refund rights.
Bottom line: Importers need to understand the liquidation status of all IEEPA entries and act quickly to preserve every available refund opportunity.
HFA will continue to monitor developments closely and provide additional information and updates as necessary to help retailers stay informed and respond appropriately.
