Michigan Gov. Whitmer signs executive directive for agencies to help businesses receive tariff refunds

For years, tariffs, or taxes on imported goods, have driven up costs for businesses across Michigan. 

On Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive to help businesses receive refunds, more than a month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump did not have the authority to impose most of his sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. 

Under a new directive, four state agencies are working to assess the impact.

"The president's tariffs have jacked up costs, and Michiganders have been paying the price," Whitmer said in a statement. "Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that these tariffs are illegal, it's time for Michiganders to get their money back. This executive directive will show us the damage from these irresponsible tariffs and help get refunds back to Michigan businesses."

Those added costs have rippled through the local economy, especially for manufacturers and the auto industry.

Glenn Stevens Jr., executive director of MichAuto, said, "In the auto industry alone, probably about $35 billion overall. That's caused a lot of problems for companies."

"Although there's no tangible summary yet, but we see some damage, so we need to collect in the data," said Wayne Fu, associate professor of Decision Science at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Stevens says this directive shows the state is still trying to understand just how much tariffs have cost businesses and how to respond effectively.

"The consumer has felt it. But really, the victim has really been these small businesses, not just the big businesses, but the small businesses. And in some cases, it has forced them to go out of business," said Stevens.

Now, some companies are trying to get that money back, but the process to do so is still taking shape.

"Right now, to my knowledge, the portal is not even up yet where people can apply for that, and once it is up, it will take a minimum of 45 days," said Stevens.

That means that even if refunds are coming, businesses may be waiting months before they see or feel any relief.

"Meanwhile, every coin has two faces. So, the first thing is we need to show whatever the impact it has," said Fu.

State officials say more details on how businesses can apply for refunds are expected in the coming months.