Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on Thursday urged corporations to pass along any tariff refunds to consumers.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer addressed the issue of tariff refunds following the recent Supreme Court ruling that blocked President Donald Trump’s invocation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs.
Schumer noted that a judge at the United States Court of International Trade had ruled that importers are entitled to refunds after portions of the administration’s tariffs were invalidated.
Schumer stated that the financial benefits from any refunds should ultimately go to consumers and small businesses rather than large corporations. He pointed out that many companies passed the cost of tariffs on to their customers when they were first imposed and should now pass along any refunds as well.
Schumer said he and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) are calling on the United States Chamber of Commerce to urge its member companies to return tariff savings to consumers. He described it as a matter of fairness, saying American households and small businesses bore the burden of the tariffs during the trade conflict.
Schumer Gives Remarks After Senate Rejects War Powers Resolution
Schumer then turned to the escalating conflict with Iran, sharply criticizing his Republican colleagues—and Democratic Senator John Fetterman—for voting against a War Powers Resolution the day prior and supporting the administration’s military actions. “Yesterday was a disappointing and low moment for the United States Senate,” he stated.
Schumer stated the decision to back the president had come despite what he described as widespread public opposition to a broader war in the Middle East.
According to Schumer, the conflict is expanding geographically, citing reports of fighting reaching areas near the Indian Ocean and drone activity as far north as Azerbaijan. He pointed out that the administration lacks a clear strategy and called out Trump administration officials for repeatedly offering shifting explanations justifying the military campaign.
Schumer also warned that the conflict could drive up fuel costs for Americans. He referenced reporting by Politico indicating concern within the White House about rising gasoline prices, including warnings from White House chief of staff Susie Wiles.
“If Donald Trump doesn’t want gas prices to go up,” Schumer stated, “he should not have unilaterally started a war with Iran.”
Schumer concluded that his Republican colleagues—and Fetterman—now share responsibility for the conflict after declining to block the administration’s actions.
“Senate Republicans had their chance to do something that would have overwhelmingly been popular—to say ‘no’ to Trump’s war,” he said. “Instead, they enthusiastically said ‘yes,’ and now they own this war with Iran just as much as Donald Trump does.”
