California Leaders Call for Tariff Refunds After SCOTUS Ruling

State officials demand immediate refunds with interest after court strikes down Trump's illegal tariffs.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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California state leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, are calling for immediate refunds with interest after the Supreme Court struck down former President Trump's tariffs, which were found to be an "illegal cash grab" that drove up prices and hurt working families. The court ruling said businesses are entitled to refunds, but the order did not specify a procedure for making claims.

Why it matters

California is home to the nation's largest port infrastructure and the fourth-largest economy in the world, making the state's trade relationships and import/export activities critically important. The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration were seen as damaging to California businesses and consumers, who paid billions in increased costs.

The details

During a press conference, Attorney General Bonta said that those seeking refunds can initiate a claim through the Court of International Trade. A recent Senate report found American consumers paid tens of billions in tariff costs over the past year, averaging over $1,700 per family. Businesses across California and the country struggled to shoulder rising costs of international goods.

  • The Supreme Court struck down the tariffs on February 20, 2026.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The governor of California who called the tariffs an "illegal cash grab" that hurt working families.

Rob Bonta

The California Attorney General who said the state will remain vigilant to ensure businesses receive the refunds they are owed.

Xavier Becerra

A former U.S. Health and Human Services secretary who is now running for California governor, and who praised the court ruling that stops "Donald Trump's tariff mania".

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What they’re saying

“These tariffs were nothing more than an illegal cash grab that drove up prices and hurt working families, so you could wreck longstanding alliances and extort them. Every dollar unlawfully taken must be refunded immediately — with interest. Cough up!”

— Gavin Newsom, Governor of California (kqed.org)

“California is going to remain vigilant as the refund process moves forward to ensure that businesses harmed by these illegal tariffs receive the relief that they're owed.”

— Rob Bonta, California Attorney General (kqed.org)

“Thank god we now have a ruling that at least tells us that Donald Trump can't cause this chaos with his tariff mania.”

— Xavier Becerra, Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Candidate for California Governor (kqed.org)

What’s next

The Court of International Trade will establish a procedure for businesses to claim refunds for the unlawful tariffs.

The takeaway

This ruling is a major victory for California's businesses and consumers, who have shouldered the burden of the Trump administration's misguided tariff policies. State leaders are now focused on ensuring a smooth refund process so that affected parties can recoup the billions of dollars in unlawful charges.