Tuesday, August 11, 2026
TARIFF.NEWS DAILY BRIEFING — August 10, 2026
TARIFF REFUNDS IN MOTION
The most directly relevant development for our readers: Chinese companies are reporting that they have begun receiving tariff refunds from the United States, according to BusinessToday Malaysia. This marks a tangible early step in the refund process following the Supreme Court's February ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump. Separately, Crowell and Moring published their International Trade Law Update for July 2026, which is expected to contain key developments on the post-ruling legal landscape. We are reviewing that document and will have a fuller report shortly.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND THE COURTS
A federal appeals court declined to dismiss thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok, with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling Monday that the companies had appealed too early, according to The Hill. While unrelated to tariff matters, the decision signals continued judicial willingness to let major corporate liability cases proceed — a dynamic worth monitoring as tariff refund litigation works through the courts.
CABINET AND PERSONNEL
Todd Blanche was formally sworn in as attorney general Monday in a ceremony at the Oval Office, according to The Hill, becoming the second person to hold that position in Trump's second term. President Trump separately told reporters he has not spoken to Blanche or U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro about potentially prosecuting Dr. Anthony Fauci, despite earlier signals from allies that such action was under consideration.
DOMESTIC POLICY
President Trump signed an executive order Monday calling for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to be split across three separate visits, drawing sharp criticism from Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), himself a physician, who said the president lacks the expertise to make such changes. The American Academy of Pediatrics called the order dangerous amid a 35-year high in measles cases, according to The Hill.
The Trump administration also announced it has revoked more than 175,000 visas, with the State Department citing criminal activity and calls for violence among the stated reasons, according to The Hill. The administration extended a 90-day Jones Act waiver affecting shipping between U.S. ports, framing the move as an effort to hold down fuel prices.
CONGRESS
Sen. Bernie Sanders sent letters to Democratic leadership calling for a ban on super PAC involvement in Democratic primaries, and separately wrote to the CEOs of OpenAI, Anthropic and Meta urging a pause on AI development following recent hacking incidents, warning of congressional intervention if the companies do not act. A bipartisan House group introduced companion legislation to a Russia sanctions bill that passed the Senate earlier this month, honoring the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, for whom a South Carolina air base was also officially renamed Monday, according to The Hill.
Senate Democrats unveiled the Water Cyber Shield Act, a new bill aimed at protecting water infrastructure from cyberattacks, introduced by Sens. Adam Schiff and Amy Klobuchar.
IRAN CONFLICT
President Trump said the U.S.-Iran conflict now resembles a chess game and that he is low-keying negotiations, telling Axios he believes economic pressure on Tehran will be sufficient. Trump also demanded Iran pay compensation for American deaths in the conflict, responding to Iranian calls for their own reparations. The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell below 300 million barrels for the first time since the 1980s, and the Pentagon is pressing defense contractors to accelerate weapons production, according to The Hill.
WHAT TO WATCH
President Trump travels to Geneva, Ohio on Tuesday for the administration's Patriot Games sporting event. Attorney General Blanche begins his first full day leading the Justice Department Monday. Watch for additional reporting on the Crowell and Moring trade law update and any new court filings related to tariff refund claims.