HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Native Hawaiian leaders and lawmakers are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s proposal to remove funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, which he suggested last year, but failed.
“It’s not like we’re seeing benefits to the community that are flowing from, you know, money saved from those cuts. Those monies are going to fuel wars around the world. For a lot of Native Hawaiians, I think, probably just another chapter of a long story of getting screwed over time,” State Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole said.
Trump argued that Native Hawaiians should not get money under a federal Native American Housing law because they are a racial group and not a tribal nation.
“So obviously. We can see with this administration that they are not friendly to Native Hawaiian causes and the Native Hawaiian community at large,” State Rep. Kanani Souza said. “We can see that through policy since this administration has been in office.”
“So it’s definitely more concerning than what we’ve seen in previous years. But I think, you know, it’s great that we have the strong support of our federal delegation,” Native Hawaiian advocate Jacob Aki said.
Some are looking to lawmakers to again shut down Trump’s proposal this year and are encouraging others to exercise civic engagement.
“We don’t need to be angry, we need to be active. You know, we need not put our fist in the air. We need to pick up the pen and vote,” Robin Danner, senior adviser for the Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations, said. “We need to write to our elected leaders and explain the history of Native Hawaiians and the Indigenous people and the fact that we’re in the United States Constitution.”
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Paige Beauchemin vows to impeach Donald Trump on ‘Day 1’ | CloseUp
CREMATION SERVICES, VISIT 603 CREMATIONS.COM OR CALL (603) 524-1425. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, DEMOCRATS GET TO DECIDE IN SEPTEMBER IF THEY WANT TO MAKE A TRADE IN. THERE’S A PROGRESSIVE PRIMARY CHALLENGER WORKING TO OUST FIRST TERM CONGRESSWOMAN MAGGIE GOODLANDER. PAIGE BEAUCHEMIN, WHO IS ALSO A STATE REP SERVING NASHUA IS OUR GUEST THIS MORNING. REPRESENTATIVE, THANKS FOR COMING IN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME, ADAM. SO LET’S START SORT OF ON A BIG PICTURE THING. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR ONE SIDE TO JUST SORT OF STAMP ITS WILL ON THE OTHER AND DO EVERYTHING IT POSSIBLY CAN. BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE INCREASINGLY HOW PEOPLE IN POLITICS OPERATE. SO WHAT’S AN ISSUE ON WHICH YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPROMISE WITH REPUBLICANS IF YOU GET TO CONGRESS, OR HAS THAT SHIP SAILED AND IT’S TIME TO JUST FIGHT? I TRULY BELIEVE THAT. THAT DEPENDS ON THE ISSUE. I, I THINK THAT THE WAY I’M SEEING THINGS IS WE HAVE REALLY BEEN FOCUSED ON ON BEING BIPARTISAN. AND I THINK THAT THAT’S THAT WORKS WHEN YOU HAVE TWO REASONABLE PARTIES. I REALLY DO. AND I THINK PEOPLE HAVE MADE THIS ANALOGY THAT RIGHT NOW IT’S ALMOST LIKE WE ARE IN A IN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATION, WE ARE KIND OF THE VICTIMS OF ABUSERS. AND YOU REALLY CAN’T RATIONALIZE WITH ABUSERS. AND TO THINK THAT YOU CAN ONLY PROLONGS THAT DANGER THAT YOU’RE IN. AND SO I THINK IN SOME CASES, WITH SOME OF THEM, THERE IS NO WORKING. BUT I HAVE FOUND, AND I WOULD SAY THAT THE STATE LEGISLATURE, THE HOUSE REALLY REPRESENTS THE SAME THING. AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BE BIPARTISAN. ONE OF THE ISSUES, INCIDENTALLY, IS MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH, WHICH I AM AN EXPERT IN AS A NURSE. AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE STILL REALLY DO CARE ABOUT. AND I HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN WORKING WITH REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE ON PASSING LEGISLATION FOR MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH. AND HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A STATE REP? YOU KNOW, YOU PRESENT YOURSELF AS AN OUTSIDER, BUT, YOU KNOW, YEAR THREE AS A STATE REP. SO YOU HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE THERE. YEAH. HOW HAS THAT EXPERIENCE SHAPED HOW YOU WANT TO DO THINGS IN CONGRESS? ABSOLUTELY. SO I THINK I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF AN OUTSIDER ON THE INSIDE. I STILL VERY MUCH FUNCTION AS AN OUTSIDER ON THE INSIDE. YOU KNOW, I THERE MIGHT BE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON’T LOVE HOW I HOW I THINK THINGS SHOULD BE DONE, BUT I WOULD SAY I’M ACTUALLY VERY WELL PLACED BECAUSE I AM CLOSE ENOUGH. THREE YEARS, YOU KNOW, I STILL REMEMBER MY WHOLE LIFE OF BEING A WORKING PERSON AND THAT HASN’T GONE AWAY. AND SO I THINK THAT I AM SO WELL POSITIONED BECAUSE I AM CLOSE ENOUGH THAT I STILL REMEMBER AND I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO NOT, NOT FULLY FEEL LIKE YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE SYSTEM. AND YET I’VE GOT THESE THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THAT GIVE ME JUST ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO NAVIGATE. I AM PRESSURE TESTED. I HAVE JUST THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE TO BE ABLE TO BE REALLY EFFECTIVE. TO BE FAIR TO THE HOUSE, IT’S ALL STILL REAL PEOPLE THERE FOR THE MOST PART. YOU KNOW, IN A THANKLESS JOB THAT HAS KIND OF TURNED INTO PARTIZAN TRENCH WARFARE. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS YOU CAN COMPROMISE ON. BUT ALSO YOU MENTIONED YOU SEE THINGS THAT ARE THERE. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT. I’M INTERESTED IN WHAT YOU’VE SEEN FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP. IF YOU’RE THERE IN CONGRESS IN 2027, DO YOU BELIEVE HE IS ALREADY COMMITTED AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE? AND IF SO, IS THAT AN AVENUE YOU’D LIKE TO PURSUE IN CONGRESS? IT’S ABSOLUTELY AN AVENUE. AND IN FACT, I HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY CITIZENS FOR IMPEACHMENT, AND WE ARE A GROUP WHO IS DEDICATED TO IMPEACHING TRUMP ON DAY ONE, PRESENTING PAPERS AND DOING THAT EVERY DAY AS LONG AS IT TAKES. WE’RE A BLOC OF OVER 140 CANDIDATES AROUND THE COUNTRY WHO ARE ALL PROGRESSIVE. WE HAVE ALL PLEDGED TO IMPEACH, AND WE HAVE ALL PLEDGED TO RUN HUMANITARIAN CAMPAIGNS WITH INTEGRITY AND SERVE WITH INTEGRITY. AND WHAT’S REALLY SPECIAL ABOUT THAT IS WE’RE GOING IN TOGETHER AS A BLOC WITH THE PAPERS TO SUBMIT. AND I THINK THAT THAT IS POTENTIALLY A VERY STRONG, POWERFUL BLOC. WHAT’S THE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE? THE IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE IS ALMOST EVERYTHING HE’S DONE. AND RIGHT NOW, I THINK WE CAN ABSOLUTELY POINT TO HIS ILLEGAL WARS AND HIS THREAT TO GENOCIDE AND ENTIRE CIVILIZATION. SO THAT’S SOMETHING WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LAST WEEK WITH STEPHANIE SHAHEEN WHEN HE SAID THAT ESSENTIALLY A CIVILIZATION WILL WILL DIE TONIGHT. IS IT A SLIPPERY SLOPE WHEN YOU START CONSIDERING A PRESIDENT’S WORDS AS GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT, EVEN EVEN IF THEY MAY BE EXTREME? I THINK THAT THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT. THAT SHOWS WHAT THEY’RE THINKING. THAT SHOWS IT SHOWS HOW THEY VIEW THINGS. AND I THINK THAT THAT REALLY IS IMPORTANT. THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. ABSOLUTELY. LET’S GET TO SOME ISSUES HERE. AND I DO WANT YOU TALKED ABOUT MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH AS WELL. LET’S GET TO THAT IN A BIT. BUT FIRST, WHAT IS THE FASTEST WAY TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR THE PEOPLE LIVING IN CD TWO? THE FASTEST WAY TO LOWER ENERGY COSTS, OF COURSE, WOULD BE ENDING THE WAR THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COSTS. I WOULD SAY IF YOU HAD ASKED ME THIS MAYBE A MONTH AGO, I HAVE I HAVE DONE ENVIRONMENTAL WORK BEFORE MY CAREER AS A NURSE. I’M EXTREMELY COMMITTED TO THE CLIMATE, AND I SEE INVESTING IN RENEWABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY SOURCES. ABSOLUTELY. AS THE WAY THAT WE NEED TO GO. AND YET THAT WOULD TAKE TIME, RIGHT? SO IT WOULD HELP QUICKLY. AND THIS IS A TOUGH NUT TO UNTIE HERE BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT ABOUT 116,000 HOUSEHOLDS DEPENDENT ON NATURAL GAS FOR HEATING AND ENERGY. WOULD YOU SUPPORT ADDITIONAL PIPELINES THAT COULD BRING DOWN COSTS FOR THOSE PEOPLE? I BELIEVE THAT PUTTING THAT INVESTMENT INTO A PIPELINE, ALONG WITH KNOWING HOW RISKY THAT CAN BE FOR THE SAFETY, BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OFTEN LEAKS AND AND OFTEN TIMES WHEN THOSE THINGS GO INTO PLACE, THEY GO INTO THE POORER NEIGHBORHOODS OR THROUGH THE POOR AREAS. AND THAT REALLY IS PUTTING THE FOLKS IN THOSE AREAS IN DANGER OF POTENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS. SO DO I THINK THAT THAT’S THE FIRST PRIORITY? I WOULD NOT INVEST IN THAT. AND AGAIN, IF WE’RE LOOKING AT A PIPELINE, WE COULD BUILD CLEAN ENERGY RESOURCES WITHIN THAT TIME FRAME AS WELL. AND THAT’S REALLY WE NEED TO BE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE. OUR KIDS, MY KIDS ARE 13, 11 AND SEVEN. I WANT THEM TO HAVE A CLEAN PLANET. I DON’T WANT TO INVEST IN THE PAST. I WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE. YOU’RE A NURSE AND SO YOU HAVE EVERYDAY WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROS AND CONS OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FROM THE INSIDE. YES, THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE WRONG WITH THAT SYSTEM. ANYONE WHO HAS PAID A BILL TO ANY KIND OF MEDICAL ENTITY IN THE LAST YEAR OR TWO CAN ATTEST TO THAT VISCERALLY. BUT HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR MEDICARE FOR ALL CANDIDATE I AM? HOW DO YOU PROTECT THE THINGS THAT THE SYSTEM DOES DO WELL, LIKE SPECIALIZED CARE, INNOVATION, ACUTE CARE, THE THINGS THAT SOCIALIZED MEDICINE DOES NOT SUCCEED AS WELL AT ACCOMPLISHING FOR PATIENTS? WELL, I MEAN, WE HAVEN’T TRIED IT HERE YET. AND SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT MEDICARE FOR ALL, CERTAINLY WE START WITH A THE MODEL THAT WE’RE WORKING WITH ALREADY, WE LOOK AT WHAT HAS WORKED IN OTHER NATIONS, AND THEN WE GET THE RIGHT EXPERTS TOGETHER AND SAY, WHAT? HOW CAN WE TAKE THESE COMPONENTS AND THEN ADD TO IT AND ADAPT IT SO THAT IT FITS AND WORKS FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE? AND I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT ALL THOSE THINGS THAT YOU SAID ARE POSSIBLE. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HEAR ME SAY MEDICARE FOR ALL AND THEY SAY, WELL, IT DOESN’T INCLUDE DENTAL VISION, ETC. WELL, IF WE’RE CREATING A NEW PROGRAM, WE CAN PUT THAT IN THERE. WE CAN INCLUDE NEGOTIATING PHARMACEUTICAL PRICES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE BEYOND OUR LIMITED EXPERIENCE OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NOW AND START THINKING ABOUT WHAT DO WE WANT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW AND SO WE CAN CREATE IT IN THE WAY THAT IT WILL WORK BEST. WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WASHINGTON WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE NEXT SESSION, BUT IT’S LIKELY DEMOCRATS WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY IN THE SENATE TO PASS MEDICARE FOR ALL. SO WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU CAN DO MORE QUICKLY, SPECIFICALLY ON MATERNAL RURAL HEALTH CARE? WE’RE SEEING THE COLLAPSE OF HELP FOR MOMS, ESPECIALLY, WHO ARE PREGNANT ANYWHERE OUTSIDE OF URBAN AREAS. THEY REALLY HAVE TO EITHER DRIVE A LONG WAY OR JUST GO WITHOUT THAT CARE. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP THEM? SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE’RE DOING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ALREADY IS TRYING TO BUILD AT THE SMALL PIECES. AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE’VE DONE, WE HAVE RECEIVED A HUGE RURAL HEALTH GRANT IN THE STATE AND A LARGE PORTION, I WON’T SAY THE PERCENTAGE. I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S A LARGE PORTION, BUT THERE IS A LARGE AMOUNT BEING INVESTED IN A MATERNAL HEALTH INITIATIVE IN THE RURAL NORTH COUNTRY. AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT OVERALL IS HOW WE’RE VALUING MATERNAL HEALTH CARE AND THE COSTS THAT ARE GOING INTO THAT. NOW, WHAT I KNOW AS A NURSE IS THAT THE QUICKEST WAY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES, TO CLOSE THE DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THE POOR OUTCOMES FOR WHITE WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR, BECAUSE WOMEN OF COLOR AND BABIES OF COLOR DIE AT THREE TIMES THE RATE OF WHITE WOMEN. AND SO THE BEST WAY WE CAN COMBAT THAT IS ACTUALLY TO SUPPORT MIDWIFERY CARE, BECAUSE MIDWIVES ARE MUCH LOWER COST AND THE MAJORITY OF PREGNANT PEOPLE ARE HEALTHY. PREGNANCY IS NOT A PATHOLOGY, AND WE’VE TREATED IT AS A PATHOLOGY. AND THERE ARE DECADES OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOW THAT WHEN YOU TAKE NORMAL, HEALTHY PREGNANCIES AND YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO SEES PREGNANCY AS A NORMAL, NATURAL, HEALTHY PROCESS, THEY WILL INTERVENE LESS WHEN IT’S NOT NECESSARY. AND A LARGE PART OF OUR PROBLEMS ARE UNNECESSARY INTERVENTIONS. AND THEN WHEN THERE’S A RISK, WE SEND THEM TO THE OBS WHO ARE ABLE TO MANAGE THOSE HIGHER RISK SITUATIONS. BUT IF WE WOULD FOSTER THAT, IF WE WOULD INVEST IN IT, INCENTIVIZE MIDWIFERY, WE WOULD IMMEDIATELY SEE BETTER OUTCOMES AND THAT WOULD BE EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE STATE. BUT SPECIFICALLY, WE WOULD START WITH PROGRAMS IN THE RURAL AREAS. IT’S BEEN FUN. WE’VE HAD OUR TIME THOUGH. THAT’S IT. I KNOW IT FLIES BY. YES IT DOES. JOINING US ON CLOSE-UP. WE’LL SEE YOU OUT THERE ON THE TRAIL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. OKAY. AND WE’LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A NEW LOOK AT SOM
Paige Beauchemin vows to impeach Donald Trump on ‘Day 1’ | CloseUp
Paige Beauchemin, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, discusses her approach to politics and willingness to compromise, how her service as a state representative has shaped her campaign, her promise to impeach Donald Trump on the first day of the next Congress, ways to reduce energy costs, whether she would support new natural gas pipelines in NH-02, health care policy, and rural access to prenatal care.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
Paige Beauchemin, a Democratic candidate for Congress in New Hampshire’s 2nd Congressional District, discusses her approach to politics and willingness to compromise, how her service as a state representative has shaped her campaign, her promise to impeach Donald Trump on the first day of the next Congress, ways to reduce energy costs, whether she would support new natural gas pipelines in NH-02, health care policy, and rural access to prenatal care.
Global oil prices rose in Monday morning trade in Asia after President Donald Trump said the US has intercepted and seized an Iran-flagged cargo ship.
It came after Iran said on Saturday that it was closing the Strait of Hormuz waterway again to commercial vessels and that any ship that approaches it would be targeted.
Brent crude futures were up by 4.74% at $94.66 (£70.11) a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate was 5.6% higher at $88.55.
Energy markets have seen wild swings since the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February and Tehran responded with threats to target shipping in the strait, through which about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes.
Earlier, Trump said his representatives would be in Pakistan on Monday for negotiations. A White House official said Vice-President JD Vance would lead the US delegation.
But Iran’s state media said Tehran had “no plans for now to participate” in the talks, although Iranian officials have not clarified the country’s position yet.
“Oil markets continue to gyrate in response to oscillating social media posts by the US and Iran, rather than the realities on the ground which remain challenging for oil flows to resume in a rapid fashion”, analyst Saul Kavonic from financial services firm MST Marquee told the BBC.
“This is all part of negotiations, physically playing out in real time on the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Strait of Hormuz remained closed on Sunday, a day after the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said it was ending a temporary reopening over the US blockade, which it said violated the terms of their ceasefire agreement. Iran said it would stay closed until the US ended its naval blockade.
Trump had on Friday said that the naval blockade would continue until a deal was agreed by the two countries.
Energy prices have seen volatile trading since the start of the Iran war.
Brent crude, a benchmark for oil futures prices, was trading at under $70 per barrel before the conflict. On 9 March it reached almost $120.
Futures contracts are an agreement to buy or sell assets at a set price on a specified date in the future. The Brent futures contract currently being quoted is for crude oil to be delivered in June.
The conflict has triggered a global energy crisis with prices rising sharply, while some countries are facing fuel shortages.
Governments have ordered employees to work from home, cut the working week, declared national holidays and closed universities early in order to conserve their supplies.
Even China – which is thought to have reserves equivalent to three months of imports – is making adjustments, limiting a fuel price hike as citizens are faced with a 20% jump in price.
Last week, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that Europe has “maybe six weeks of jet fuel left”.
Fatih Birol told AP that there could soon be flight cancellations if supplies remained blocked.
A number of local faith leaders are jumping into the ongoing clash between Pope Leo and the Trump administration. The president has angered many Catholics by criticizing the pope’s call to end the War in Iran, and today one of Chicago’s most prominent Catholic leaders fired back.
CHICAGO – A number of local faith leaders are jumping into the ongoing clash between Pope Leo XIV and the Trump administration.
The president has angered many Catholics by criticizing the pope’s call to end the war in Iran, and on Sunday, one of Chicago’s most prominent Catholic leaders fired back.
St. Sabina’s Father Michael Pfleger held a news conference following Sunday morning services to fire back at criticism of Pope Leo from President Trump and his administration.
“The truth is that Mr. Trump’s attack is not just on the pope. And it’s not just on Catholics. But it’s an attack on Christians. And I believe an attack on Jews and Muslims across this country. It’s an attack on people of faith,” Pfleger said.
The backstory:
After Pope Leo delivered a speech critical of the War in Iran, and calling the president’s threats to destroy Iranian civilization “irresponsible,” Trump responded with a social media post calling the pope “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy.”
Later, the president posted an AI-generated picture that appeared to show him depicted as Jesus.
Leaders of Chicago’s Protestant churches are also speaking out.
“I encourage all in the body of Christ to stand with the pope. Because his position is right. Because he’s also addressing the number one problem of the 21st century and that is violence,” Pastor Anthony Williams of United Church of Christ said.
For his part, Pope Leo appears to be trying to tone down the war of words with the president, saying his recent speech that appeared to be a rebuttal to Trump had actually been written weeks ago.
“Well before the president ever commented on myself and the message of peace I am promoting. And yet, as it happens, it looked as if I was trying to debate the president again, which is not my interest at all,” Pope Leo XIV said.
The pope says he will continue to preach the gospel and his message of peace as his trip to Africa continues.
A ship is docked at the Port of Long Beach Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Long Beach, Calif. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
NEW YORK — A refund system for businesses that paid tariffs which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled President Donald Trump imposed without the constitutional authority to do so is scheduled to launch Monday.
Importers and their brokers will be able to begin claiming refunds through an online portal beginning at 8 a.m., according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the agency administering the system.
It’s the first step in a complicated process that also might eventually lead to refunds for consumers who were billed for some or all of the tariffs on products shipped to them from outside the United States.
Companies must submit declarations listing the goods on which they collectively put billions of dollars toward the import taxes the court subsequently struck down. If CBP approves a claim, it will take 60-90 days for a refund to be issued, the agency said.
The government expects to process refunds in phases, however, focusing first on more recent tariff payments. Any number of technical factors and procedural issues could delay an importer’s application, so any reimbursements businesses plan to make to customers likely would trickled down slowly.
In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court on Feb. 20 found that Trump usurped Congress’ tax-setting role last April when he set new import tax rates on products from almost every other country, citing the U.S. trade deficit as a national emergency that warranted his invoking of a 1977 emergency powers law.
Although the court majority did not address refunds in its ruling, a judge at the U.S. Court of International Trade determined last month that companies subjected to IEEPA tariffs were entitled to money back.
Not all taxed imports immediately eligible
Customs and Border Protection said in court filings that over 330,000 importers paid a total of about $166 billion on over 53 million shipments.
Not all of those orders qualify for the first phase of the refund system’s rollout, which is limited to cases in which tariffs were estimated but not finalized or within 80 days of a final accounting.
To receive refunds, importers have to register for the CPB’s electronic payment system. As of April 14, 56,497 importers had completed registration and were eligible for refunds totaling $127 billion, including interest, the agency said.
System requires accuracy
Meghann Supino, a partner at Ice Miller, said the law firm has advised clients to carefully list in their declarations all of the document numbers for forms that went to CBP to describe imported goods and their value.
“If there is an entry on that file that does not qualify, it may cause the entire entry to be rejected or that line item might be rejected by Customs,” she said.
Supino thinks the portal going live will require composure as well as diligence.
“Like any electronic online program that goes live with a lot of interest, I would expect that there might be some hiccups with the program on Monday,” she said. “So we continue to ask everyone to be patient, because we think that patience will pay off.”
Nghi Huynh, the partner-in-charge of transfer pricing at accounting and consulting firm Armanino, said most companies claiming refunds will have imported a mix of items, and not all will qualify right away.
“It’s about having a clear process in place and keeping track of what’s been submitted and what’s been paid, so nothing falls through the cracks,” she said. “Each file can include thousands of entries, but accuracy is critical, as submissions can be rejected if formatting or data is incorrect.”
Patience with the process
Small businesses have eagerly awaited the chance to apply for refunds. Brad Jackson, co-founder of After Action Cigars in Rochester, Minnesota, said he starting compiling records and preparing to enter information into the system the minute CPB announced the launch date.
The company imports cigars and accessories from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Last year, it paid $34,000 in tariffs and absorbed much of the cost instead of raising customer prices, Jackson said.
Last spring, he had a two-week delay in a shipment due to a missing document, so he is being more careful with refund documents, he said.
“My main concern is the turnaround time,” Jackson said. “A refund process that takes several months to complete doesn’t solve the cash flow problem that it is supposed to fix.”
Will consumers see refunds?
Tariffs are paid by importers, and some companies pass on the tax costs to consumers via higher prices.
The system starting up Monday will refund tariffs directly to the businesses that paid them, which are not obligated to share the proceeds with customers. However, class-action lawsuits that aim to force companies, ranging from Costco to Ray-Ban maker Essilor Luxottica, to reimburse shoppers are winding their way through the U.S. legal system.
Individuals may be more likely to receive refunds from delivery companies like FedEx and UPS, which collected tariffs on imports directly from consumers. FedEx has said it would return tariff refunds to customers when it receives them from the CPB.
“Supporting our customers as they navigate regulatory changes remains our top priority,” FedEx said in a statement. “We are working with our customers as CBP begins processing refunds and plan to begin filing claims on April 20.”
