By Sasha Richie, The Dallas Morning News
As President Donald Trump visits the Lone Star State Friday to tout his energy and economic agendas, a group representing over 900 small businesses is demanding an $11 billion tariff refund for Texas importers.
We Pay the Tariffs is a group of restaurants, manufacturers, retailers and more who have been affected by the sweeping tariffs put in place unilaterally by Trump at the start of his term.
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down those levies, determining that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not give him the power to implement tariffs.
Now, with more than $100 billion paid nationwide in IEEPA tariffs last year, We Pay the Tariffs is calling on Congress to take action for small businesses affected by tariffs, and promoting a letter for small business owners to send to their Congressional representatives.
“Texas businesses paid over $11 billion in illegal tariffs last year, and they are owed every penny back,” said Dan Anthony, Executive Director of We Pay the Tariffs, in a release.
“The government has records of every tariff payment. Congress and the administration must ensure that refunds are issued automatically, without requiring small businesses to hire lawyers or navigate complex claims processes.”
Texas paid the second-most in IEEPA tariffs from February to December, trailing California which paid $26 billion, per data from Trade Partnership Worldwide.
After the Supreme Court ruled against the IEEPA tariffs, the Trump administration swiftly levied a new global tariff of 10% via executive order under a different statute. The administration is working to increase that figure to 15% and looking at other tariff options. The Court’s decision did not address tariff refunds.
“The administration’s decision to double down within hours by imposing new tariffs underscores that tariffs are intended as a permanent tax on small businesses,” Anthony said. “For Texas small businesses this is just a new tariff, under a different name, resulting in the same cost increases.”
Trump is set to speak in Corpus Christi Friday evening days after he used his State of the Union address, in part, to repeat claims that foreign countries pay tariffs, which is not true, and that tariffs are “saving our country.”
The administration’s new tariffs are likely to face additional legal challenges. Meanwhile, large corporations like FedEx, Revlon and Costco have sued in the U.S. Court of International Trade to recoup illegal tariffs paid. FedEx also committed to return any tariffs refunds to customers.
_____
©2026 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.