US launches $166bn tariff refund system

Customs and Border Protection has officially launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) system to facilitate a massive payback to US firms.

The move follows a landmark court ruling that determined the White House had overstepped its emergency authority in imposing global levies.

While the system promises to return billions to corporate coffers, experts warn that individual consumers who faced higher prices are unlikely to see any direct benefit.

Some small businesses have already reported technical glitches and error messages during the initial filing phase.