The US government has initiated the process to refund approximately $166 billion in reciprocal tariffs, a move that particularly impacts Indian exporters who faced some of the highest levies. The online portal, managed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), began accepting claims on April 20, 2026. This action follows an earlier US Supreme Court decision that struck down the tariffs, originally imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
US Tariff Refunds: A Complex Path for Indian Firms
Indian businesses were subject to substantial reciprocal tariffs, reaching up to 50% in some cases, which included a 25% punitive tariff related to the purchase of Russian crude oil. These high duties affected over half of India's exports to the US, with significant impacts on sectors like textiles, apparel, engineering goods, and chemicals.
According to an analysis by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), an estimated $12 billion linked to India's exports is part of the total refund pool. Textiles and apparel alone could account for about $4 billion, with engineering goods contributing another $4 billion, and chemicals approximately $2 billion.
How the Refund Process Works
The CBP's Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system is designed for US importers and authorized customs brokers to file claims. They must provide shipment data, tariff lines, and proof of payment. Once accepted, valid IEEPA refunds are generally expected to be issued within 60 to 90 days, unless further compliance review is required.
However, the refund mechanism presents a challenge for Indian exporters. Payments are directed solely to US importers, meaning Indian exporters lack a direct legal avenue to claim their refunds from the US government.
"Importers and authorised brokers should anticipate that valid IEEPA refunds will generally be issued within 60 - 90 days following acceptance of the CAPE Declaration, unless a compliance concern requires further CBP review," the IEEPA duty refunds portal states.
Exporters Must Negotiate
This structure necessitates that Indian exporters engage in negotiations with their US importers to recover the tariff costs they initially absorbed. Ajai Srivastava, Founder of GTRI, highlighted this issue, stating, "Payments go only to US importers, and exporters have no legal right to claim them. Indian exporters, therefore, have no direct legal route to claim refunds."
Industry sources indicate that many Indian exporters may not have specific clauses in their contracts with buyers addressing such refunds. However, given long-standing business relationships, there is hope that US importers will provide credit notes or adjust cost differentials in future shipments. Indian industry bodies are also expected to assist exporters in navigating the new portal and claiming their due refunds.