As head Merchandising officer for one of the great sellers on Amazon, Owen Carr knew that the deck chairs had been from a Chinese factory in early April He cost him more than ever. This is because the chairs, which normally go for $ 79 on Amazon, were among the first Chinese imports subject to the minimum sliced of 145 full-top rates-alte imposed by President Donald Trump– When they arrived in Port a Seattle at the end of April. “I was paying more to the customs than to the factory for the good itself,” says Carr. “Stunning mind.”

Now his company, Spreetil, is part of a close class of importers who asks where the Trump administration could provide a refund. On May 12, Trump reached has a 90 -day commercial war truce with China, cutting the minimum rates in China to only 30 pierce. The highest rate was in force just a month, from April 10 to May 14th. “We thought there would be an agreement, but we didn’t think it would be so fast and so low,” says Carr.

A handful of commercial lawyers who have spoken with Wired claim to have told customers that reimbursements are not previous and unlikely – not impossible. The companies that were to pay the highest rate believe they are unjustly stuck in the rapid Trump negotiations. “There is still a possibility” of reimbursements, says Michael Roll, a party in Roll & Harris. “I wouldn’t say that there is jump. I wouldn’t bet.”

Trump, the Congress or Courts should authorize a new tariff exemption for the companies reached in the commercial agreement so that the refunds become reality. Lawyers say that their customers have put pressure on the Trump Administration and the legislators for exemptions, included retroactive measures that would entail reimbursement. It is not a frivolous request. The companies that produce cars, chips and drugs have been saved by other tariff police.

Asked by Wired on the possibility of reimbursements, US customs and borders protection, that rates and exemptions, said that the executive order of President Trump that lowered the rate did not require a retroactive question.

Trump considers his commercial policies as crucial to increase US production and earn power over China. But his moves are starting to erode the principles and selection of long -family products for us consumers, According to retail and expert sales data. 115 % report to traders who paid the highest tariff rate would help prices increases and allow them to remain afloat if Trump renews the rates increases, lawyers say. “For all the objectives the most profitable and large companies, this has been devastating,” says Ron Oleynik, who left at the Holland & Knight law firm.

The payment of higher rates even once can have long -term consequences for small and medium -sized companies, lawyers say. The US rules require importers to hold an obligation – actually an insurance – so that the government may request at least some funds from the companies that break the law and the donation pay what they are. The level of insurance required is determined by a company’s total tariff payments in the last 12 months; As the coverage requirements increase, also the overall costs of the obligation. “I heard that this is sticky to kill us if we have to raise our ties,” says Oleynik.

“Dollars back”

Companies such as Spreetil recognized the risk importance of goods after Trump imposed a Piert of 125 on Chinese imports last month. Many companies have decided Against the development of new orders and others have quickly interrupted the expected shipments. But Carr claims that Sprenetail wanted to provide sop, that otherwise they would have to close the factory while the orders fell. He also felt confident that they can increase prices enough to make new financial panties of imports.

SpreeTail ended up paying high rates on deck chairs and about 200 other products out of 20,000 IT imports, which includes razor scooter, loaded with EV Chargepoints and sterilitis boxes, says Carr. He paid mice up to 190 perforated after the birthday for rates for the company. “We will not be able to recover those dollars,” adds Carr, perhaps resigned to the limited perspective of reimbursements.