Trump tariffs: Refunds to companies should go to workers as bonuses, raises, Greer says

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U.S. Trade Rep. says American companies should give Trump tariff refunds to workers, customers

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American companies that end up getting up to $165 billion or so in refunds for President Donald Trump’s newly voided “reciprocal” tariffs should give that money to their workers as bonuses or raises, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Friday.

Greer’s suggestion, made in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” comes as hundreds of American importers, including Costco and FedEx, have filed lawsuits seeking refunds for the money they paid in tariffs that were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court in a 6-3 vote on Feb. 20.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection official told a Court of International Trade judge in a filing on Thursday that development of an online system that will process refund claim requests is 70% completed.

While that system remains under development, the judge’s prior order that CPB begin refunding the tariffs with interest remains suspended.

“If I were these companies, and somehow they get this windfall, the most important thing and the smartest thing they should do is give it as bonuses to their workers,” Greer told CNBC on Friday.

Jamieson Greer, US trade representative, during a Bloomberg Television interview outside the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.

Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images

“The whole reason the president imposed these tariffs was to try to reshore, affect our massive imbalance in trade that we’ve experienced over many years because of China, Vietnam, the EU and others,” Greer said.

“If the companies are going to get this windfall, they should pass it along to their workers as a bonus or a raise, because that’s the purpose of the program. It’s always been the purpose of the program. And the American people should get it, and the company should give it to their workers.”

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The Supreme Court, in its ruling last month, said Trump did not have the authority he invoked under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to impose tariffs on imports from most countries in the world.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said he expected tariffs to return by August to the levels seen before the Supreme Court decision, as the Trump administration uses a range of other authorities to impose duties on imports.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Greer’s office opened trade investigations into a total of nearly 80 countries and economies under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. Among those under investigation are China, Japan, India, Mexico and the European Union.

Section 301 allows the United States to tariff imports from nations found to have engaged in unfair trade practices.

Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act to impose global tariffs of 10% on imports. Those tariffs last for only 150 days unless Congress approves an extension.

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