United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has amassed more than $200 billion in tariff revenue throughout 2025, the agency reported Monday.
That formidable figure includes Trump’s newest “reciprocal” tariffs and punitive duties on nations across the globe—not the Section 301 tariffs levied on China during his first term in office.
“Between Jan. 20 and Dec. 15, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection collected more than $200 billion in tariffs thanks to more than 40 executive orders put in place by President Donald Trump’s Administration,” CBP wrote in a memo. “This figure underscores CBP’s effectiveness in promoting secure, fair, and compliant trade, strengthening America’s national and economic security.”
CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said the agency’s enforcement strategy is yielding results. “By combining intelligence-led targeting, rigorous oversight and swift action, we are safeguarding the U.S. economy, protecting American industries and holding accountable those who seek to break our trade laws,” he added.
Looming over the administration’s tariff agenda is the threat of an unfavorable decision from the Supreme Court that could invalidate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) duties and other punitive tariffs imposed by the president.
While the high court has until its June recess to hand down a ruling, tensions surrounding the tariffs are running hot—and not just in Washington.
In recent weeks, more than 100 companies spanning disparate sectors, from Costco to Revlon and Kawasaki, have sued the administration with the aim of solidifying their eligibility for tariff refunds should the duties be invalidated.
Knowing that the central tenet of its trade strategy—tariffs—is under attack, the administration aim to swiftly liquidate tariff payments and funnel them into the Treasury. Moving that revenue out from under CBP’s purview will make clawing it back for refunds a significant challenge in the event that the Supreme Court rules against the administration, the corporate plaintiffs believe.
As a result, late last week, dozens of companies including Costco asked the New York-based Court of International Trade (CIT) where the lawsuit was filed for an injunction that would immediately block CBP from liquidating the tariff assets. They hoped that the court would schedule oral arguments as soon as Monday, as Dec. 15 marked the date when the first tranche of entries for goods imported earlier this year would be liquidated by CBP, about 314 days after they entered the country.
The Department of Justice responded to the request on Friday, urging the CIT to deny the plaintiffs’ request on the grounds that CBP and the federal government “have repeatedly assured plaintiffs and this Court that they will not oppose or object to the Court’s authority to order reliquidation of plaintiffs’ subject entries of merchandise, or to a final decision ordering reliquidation of plaintiffs’ subject entries, should the Supreme Court hold the IEEPA duties at issue unlawful.”
“Plaintiffs’ arguments on irreparable harm, balance of the hardships, and public interest all hinge on the idea that without a preliminary injunction suspending liquidation, plaintiffs will no longer be able to obtain refunds after a final decision on the challenged IEEPA orders,” but that premise is incorrect, the defendants wrote. “The extraordinary and drastic remedy of a preliminary injunction is not warranted when it would give plaintiffs no practical relief.”
The CIT on Monday sided with the government defendants, denying the plaintiffs’ motion for an injunction and its request for a hearing.
“Because Plaintiffs cannot demonstrate irreparable harm resulting from liquidation pending a final decision in [the Supreme Court], the panel denies Plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and denies as moot Plaintiffs’ motion for a hearing,” the decision said.
The CIT wrote that the plaintiffs in the case were not in fact at risk of experiencing irreparable harm because of the administration’s speedy tariff liquidation, because liquidation won’t affect the availability of refunds after the Supreme Court makes its final decision on the viability of Trump’s tariffs.
As the complaining businesses are no doubt wringing their hands over the setback, shoppers are also bemoaning the havoc that tariffs have wreaked on their pocketbooks as the final week of holiday shopping ramps up.
Recent data released by the Democrats on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee suggests that the average American household has spent $1,200 this year on tariff-related costs, a number that will grow to $2,100 next year should the current duty rates remain in place.
A CNBC poll of 1,000 U.S. shoppers released Monday showed that 68 percent believe gift prices are higher than they have been in years past, and 61 percent say their income isn’t keeping pace with the growing cost of living.
Because of the price increases they’re seeing at retail, 46 percent are spending less than they did in 2024—a 10 point year-over-year increase in shoppers who are actively pulling back. Those who are spending are digging for deals; 28 percent of respondents said they are only buying items on sale, while half said they are looking for discounts.
Notably, 57 percent of those queried said they have some debt going into the holidays, an 11 percent jump from 2024.
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