A recent Supreme Court ruling declaring certain tariffs illegal could mean billions in refunds for small businesses and importers, according to Tom Sullivan, Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Sullivan explains how the decision impacts small business owners and offers guidance on navigating the refund process on today’s episode of Business Trends Today.
Over the past year, tariffs have posed a significant burden on small businesses that rely on imported goods. Sullivan said 236,000 small business importers were affected in 2025, with about half of all American small businesses sourcing from foreign goods or services. A Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council survey found 62% of small businesses expressed concern about tariffs, and 11% were directly impacted.
The Supreme Court ruling on the IEPA tariffs opens the possibility for refunds totaling between $129 billion and $175 billion. The magnitude of the process is significant, according to Sullivan, with Customs and Border Patrol reporting 53 million entries potentially eligible for refunds. The Court of International Trade is overseeing the process, and the U.S. government has committed to establishing a streamlined system.
Sullivan said the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is positioned to help small businesses access refunds efficiently through its network of state and local chambers. Within 12 hours of the Supreme Court decision, the Chamber launched webinars, FAQs, and other communications to help reduce uncertainty.
“Here at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, we actually recommended that the President immediately exempt small firms from tariffs… Unfortunately, the president and his team didn't agree with us. So we pivoted to tell the stories of small businesses. And actually, you know, those stories helped.
Sullivan shared the story of Alyza Bohbot, who runs City Girl Coffee in Minneapolis. After securing a large order from Kroger, Bohbot faced a 40% tariff on Brazilian coffee. Eventually, the administration exempted about 800 products, including coffee and bananas, providing much-needed business certainty.
The Chamber is also warning small businesses to be on guard against scams offering tariff refunds. Sullivan advised owners to avoid suspicious links, use trusted professional networks, and consult local chambers.
He recommends that small business owners rely on trusted news sources like uschamber.com for updates on the refund process. “We are confident we will be working in partnership with the government to get those refunds out,” Sullivan said.
Ultimately, the Supreme Court decision represents a pivotal moment for small businesses, offering potential financial relief and a path to greater certainty in trade. Sullivan emphasized that navigating these changes efficiently requires awareness, guidance, and support from trusted networks like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
ASBN, from startup to success, we are your go-to resource for small business news, expert advice, information, and event coverage.
