FedEx is seeking tariff refunds, it says on behalf of its customers. Image by Charleroi
Q1. In April 2025, President Trump levied "reciprocal tariffs" ranging from 10% to 150% on every US trading partner.
In February, the Supreme Court ruled these tariffs were illegal, that the Constitution grants the power to tax, and therefore to broadly tariff, solely to Congress.
After the ruling, FedEx filed a lawsuit seeking a "full refund" from the government of the reciprocal tariffs it paid on imported goods on behalf of its customers. FedEx said it would pass along any refunds it gets to its customers that ultimately paid the tariffs. For example, a woman paid $400 for two bridesmaid dresses from China and received an additional $600 bill from FedEx who paid the 150% tariff on her behalf.
If you think reciprocal tariffs should be refunded, how should it be done? (Note: a total of $150b in reciprocal tariffs was paid by importers to the govt)
In February, the Supreme Court ruled these tariffs were illegal, that the Constitution grants the power to tax, and therefore to broadly tariff, solely to Congress.
After the ruling, FedEx filed a lawsuit seeking a "full refund" from the government of the reciprocal tariffs it paid on imported goods on behalf of its customers. FedEx said it would pass along any refunds it gets to its customers that ultimately paid the tariffs. For example, a woman paid $400 for two bridesmaid dresses from China and received an additional $600 bill from FedEx who paid the 150% tariff on her behalf.
If you think reciprocal tariffs should be refunded, how should it be done? (Note: a total of $150b in reciprocal tariffs was paid by importers to the govt)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Don't think tariffs should be refunded
31%
40%
25%
73%
17%
1%
0%
31%
40%
28%
31%
Paid to claims filed by importer (eg FedEx)
11%
9%
10%
3%
18%
15%
26%
2%
11%
13%
11%
Claims filed by end payer (dress buyer)
20%
18%
22%
10%
16%
28%
32%
26%
15%
18%
20%
$150b divvied equally among all US adults
13%
9%
16%
4%
11%
21%
0%
13%
15%
15%
13%
$150b divvied so higher income gets more
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
$150b divvied so lower income gets more
19%
19%
19%
4%
20%
30%
32%
25%
14%
15%
19%
Other
2%
0%
3%
2%
4%
1%
0%
1%
3%
2%
2%
Not sure
4%
3%
4%
2%
10%
3%
5%
1%
2%
8%
4%
Don't care
1%
1%
0%
0%
4%
0%
5%
0%
0%
1%
Q2. Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch sided with the majority in overturning the tariffs, based on this reasoning:
In our system of government power flows from the legislative to executive branch in a “one-way ratchet,” because while it takes only a majority vote in Congress for it to delegate any of its Constitutional powers (such as tariff authority) to the president, it takes a super-majority for Congress to get it back, because a president will veto any legislation that lessens their power.
Gorsuch believes that because of this one-way ratchet the bar must be very high to rule that Congress has delegated any of its Constitutional authority to the president.
What do you make of Gorsuch’s views? (check all that apply)
In our system of government power flows from the legislative to executive branch in a “one-way ratchet,” because while it takes only a majority vote in Congress for it to delegate any of its Constitutional powers (such as tariff authority) to the president, it takes a super-majority for Congress to get it back, because a president will veto any legislation that lessens their power.
Gorsuch believes that because of this one-way ratchet the bar must be very high to rule that Congress has delegated any of its Constitutional authority to the president.
What do you make of Gorsuch’s views? (check all that apply)
(Image: Justice League by Charleroi)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
One-way ratchet exists
56%
69%
49%
41%
61%
68%
79%
63%
50%
51%
56%
Does not
15%
13%
17%
31%
6%
4%
0%
7%
25%
15%
15%
Proper to use one-way ratchet theory in rulings
42%
53%
35%
25%
48%
54%
79%
34%
43%
35%
42%
Is not
21%
24%
20%
34%
11%
13%
0%
26%
21%
23%
21%
Right to strike down reciprocal tariffs
52%
52%
50%
18%
57%
78%
74%
45%
50%
53%
52%
Was not
21%
24%
19%
49%
8%
1%
0%
18%
28%
20%
21%
Not sure
22%
19%
24%
26%
22%
19%
21%
40%
14%
14%
22%
Don't care
3%
2%
1%
0%
7%
3%
21%
1%
1%
3%
Q3. Within days of the reciprocal tariffs being struck down, President Trump reimposed them via a different statute. That statute allows tariffs to be enacted for a duration of no more than six months.
Assuming the President renews them under the same statute until the end of his term, what do you think the next administration will do with the reciprocal tariffs?
Note: US tariffs on foreign goods averaged 2% before Trump's first term, 7% in 2025 before the reciprocal tariffs, and 17% currently.
Assuming the President renews them under the same statute until the end of his term, what do you think the next administration will do with the reciprocal tariffs?
Note: US tariffs on foreign goods averaged 2% before Trump's first term, 7% in 2025 before the reciprocal tariffs, and 17% currently.
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Moot: Trump remains in office after 2nd term
3%
3%
3%
5%
5%
1%
0%
2%
4%
4%
3%
Don't care
2%
2%
2%
4%
4%
0%
5%
0%
3%
2%
2%
Topics
Entities in this poll: (rate and comment)
