Krishnamoorthi Warns CBP Tariff Refund System Could Shut Out Small Businesses

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a senior member of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott warning that the agency’s tariff refund system could shut out small businesses while favoring large corporations.

Krishnamoorthi raised concerns that while individual Americans who ultimately bore the cost of these tariffs are excluded from receiving refunds, the process must not further disadvantage small businesses already hit hardest.

In the letter, Krishnamoorthi wrote:

“The structure of this refund process, as currently designed, risks delivering the greatest benefits to the largest and most well-resourced corporations while leaving small businesses at a significant disadvantage. I urge CBP to take immediate steps to ensure that small businesses receive the refunds they deserve.”

He emphasized the scale of harm caused by the tariffs and the urgency of equitable relief:

“After months of irreversible economic damage to small businesses, the Supreme Court ruled that not only are these tariffs unconstitutional, but that American importers are owed more than $166 billion taken from them by the Trump Administration’s illegal policy.”

Small businesses—particularly in Illinois—have borne the brunt of these costs, facing steep revenue losses and rising financial strain while larger corporations were better positioned to absorb or pass on price increases.

Krishnamoorthi also warned that technical failures and structural barriers could prevent small businesses from accessing relief:

“These structural advantages, compounded by early reports of website crashes, confusing interfaces, and delays within the CAPE portal itself, threaten to shut small businesses out of a process they are legally entitled to participate in.”

Finally, Krishnamoorthi called on CBP to reserve a meaningful share of refunds for small businesses and to publicly report distribution data by business size. He requested a response by July 13, 2026.

The letter is available here.