On Monday, U.S. Customs launched the tariff refund portal, starting the first phase of refunds to U.S. companies forced to pay levies later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Not all the goods imported under the illegal tariffs immediately qualify for refunds. U.S. Customs estimates that it owes a total of $166 billion in tariff refunds, with the initial refund phase tackling the majority of affected imports. The vast majority of eligible importers owed a collective $127 billion reportedly signed up for electronic payments (an agency requirement).

After refund requests are approved, it could take 60-90 days to return the money to the importer, according to the latest federal guidance.

U.S. tariffs have forced double-digit price hikes on fasteners in the past year, as well as supply chains disruptions for companies manufacturing fasteners and other metal products. The duties have created a “rough sea” for the U.S. fastener industry, according to Larry Spelman, the outgoing chairman of the Industrial Fasteners Institute.

The U.S. continues to rely on imported fasteners, with roughly 33% of domestic demand met by imports, mainly from Taiwan, China, Japan, Mexico, and Canada. At least 30% of U.S. fastener imports — nearly 1.2 million tons — came from Taiwan in 2025. While Taiwan and the U.S. renegotiated reciprocal tariffs to 15% in January, Taiwan fastener exports still face a 50% tariff under Section 232 provisions applied by the Trump administration.

Fastener industry insiders estimate the U.S. has capacity to replace about 20% of all fastener imports, hamstrung by a skilled worker shortage, machinery backlog and limited domestic wire rod capacity.