Hartford Business Journal

16 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 6, 2026 Cindi Bigelow, president and CEO of Fairfield-based Bigelow Tea, said tariffs have cost her family business millions of dollars. The company has filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a refund. Contributed Photo Trade Turmoil CT businesses say they are owed millions after Supreme Court strikes down Trump tariffs process, … importers would be well served by following that process." But Hofherr said uncertainty has pushed some companies to file lawsuits anyway. It's unclear how long the portal process will take from submission to payment. Also, the administrative system is expected to cover only imports final- ized within 180 days before the court's March 4 order — roughly those from September 2025 onward. Businesses that paid tariffs in the spring and summer of 2025, when the reciprocal duties took effect, may fall outside that window and need to pursue litigation. "The calculus for an individual company will depend on their indi- vidual circumstances and their assessment of the risks," Daly said. Companies in line In addition to Bigelow and B. United, at least seven other Connecticut busi- nesses have filed lawsuits in the trade court. They include Stamford furniture maker Lovesac; Wallingford connector manufacturer Amphenol; Middlebury's Timex Group; RBC Bearings of Oxford; Wilton luxury watch company Breitling USA; lighting manufacturer Q-Tran in Milford; and Engineering Services and Products Co. (ESAPCO), of South Windsor. The filings reflect a range of motivations. Some — like Amphenol and Timex — were filed before the Supreme Court even ruled, as a hedge to preserve their refund claims. Others, like RBC Bearings, were filed after the By Andrew Larson alarson@hartfordbusiness.com A n Oxford-based craft beer and sake importer says it is owed $518,539 in tariff refunds after a February Supreme Court ruling overturned the Trump administration's trade regime. The company, B. United Interna- tional, is not alone. Cindi Bigelow, president and CEO of Bigelow Tea in Fairfield, said the cost to her family business runs into the millions. Both companies have filed lawsuits in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking refunds, joining at least nine Connecticut businesses — and more than 2,000 nationwide — that have sued for reimbursement since the Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the federal Interna- tional Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). "The tariffs have cost our company millions of dollars," said Bigelow, whose family business produces specialty teas sold in supermarkets and retail stores nationwide. "We truly appreciate the opportunity for poten- tial financial relief to help support our employees, their families and the communities where we live and work. We are hopeful for a positive and timely resolution." The checks have yet to arrive. And for most businesses, it may be months, or longer, before they do. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Feb. 20 that IEEPA — the emergency powers law the Trump administration used to impose duties on imports from dozens of countries — does not give the president authority to impose tariffs in response to trade deficits. The ruling, however, did not address how businesses can recover what they paid. "There's still some uncertainty there," said Kevin Daly, a lawyer at Robinson+Cole in Hart- ford who advises clients on trade compliance matters. "We don't have finality as to what the administrative process that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is developing is going to look like at the end of the day." Nationally, businesses paid an estimated $150 billion to $175 billion in IEEPA tariffs since early 2025, Daly said. Businesses pursuing refunds have options. One is to wait for CBP to launch an online portal for submitting claims. CBP told the Court of Inter- national Trade in a March declaration that the system could be ready within roughly 45 days and that work is already underway. Another option is to file a lawsuit in the trade court, either independently or by joining an existing action. Ross Hofherr, co-leader of the inter- national trade practice at law firm Harris Beach Murtha, recommends that most businesses focus on the govern- ment's administrative track first. "Litigation can be costly," he said. "If the government is setting up this Kevin Daly Ross Hofherr

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