Michigan Governor Signs Executive Directive to Help Businesses Access Tariff Refunds While Ordering Economic Impact Reports

On the one-year anniversary of "Liberation Day," Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive aimed at helping Michigan businesses and employers receive refunds for tariffs they paid under President Donald Trump's policy.

The directive comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tariffs enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unconstitutional. The ruling in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump ordered the federal government to issue refunds for those tariffs.

"The president's tariffs have jacked up costs, and Michiganders have been paying the price," Whitmer said. "Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that these tariffs are illegal, it's time for Michiganders to get their money back."

The executive directive requires several state agencies to submit reports within 30 days detailing how tariffs have affected Michigan industries, consumers, and state operations. It also ensures businesses are aware of how to seek refunds as the federal government finalizes that process.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has told the Court of International Trade it is between 60% and 85% complete in building a streamlined claims process for tariff refunds.

State data from a previous executive directive issued last July found tariffs increased the cost of raw materials, raised production expenses and limited access to foreign markets. The findings showed steep declines in agricultural exports including wheat, cherries, apples and soybeans, alongside rising input costs.

The Michigan industries hit hardest by tariffs include farmers and families, with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development noting sharp declines in agricultural exports and higher prices for food items. Homebuilders and homebuyers face a nationwide increase of up to $4 billion on materials necessary for home construction.

Whitmer's office said tariffs cost U.S. automakers $35 billion last year and increased costs for working families by about $1,000 annually.

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, defended the president's trade policy.

"When you have tariffs, you are trying to disincentivize the purchase of foreign cars and foreign components, and you're trying to incentivize the purchase of domestic cars in Michigan and domestic manufacturing," Hall said. "That's exactly what's happening. The tariffs are creating jobs in the Michigan automotive manufacturing industry, and so that's a good thing. The tariffs are working."

Despite the court ruling, tariffs remain a central part of the Trump Administration's trade strategy, with additional duties imposed after the ruling.

Whitmer said she will continue urging federal action to end those policies, while focusing on mitigating the impact in Michigan. "I'll continue to call on Congress to set a strategic trade policy that keeps costs down and our economy stable," she said. "Whether it's making it easier to get your refund or working to lower everyday costs, we've got your back."

The executive directive builds on Whitmer's earlier efforts to address tariff impacts. In July 2025, she signed Executive Directive 2025-5 to begin assessing the impacts of tariffs across Michigan industries and examine how increased costs are passed on to consumers.

Key findings from those reports showed the Michigan industries hit hardest by tariffs include:

• Farmers and families, with sharp declines in agricultural exports (wheat — 89%, cherries — 62%, apples — 58%, soybeans — 46%) and higher prices for food items
• Homebuilders and homebuyers, facing a nationwide increase of up to $4 billion on materials necessary for home construction
• Transportation planners citing growing uncertainty in road project costs tied to tariffs and inflation

Whitmer has repeatedly criticized tariffs as a driver of higher prices and economic instability, including in her State of the State address earlier this year. "People are nervous about the national economy, and, while your paycheck may have grown, the cost of everything else has too," she said. "Many middle class families tread water, struggle to pay the bills, find good jobs and get ahead. Tariffs have jacked up prices."

The governor said the directive is intended both to document the economic damage and to help businesses navigate the refund process as the federal government develops the streamlined claims system.

"We've got your back," Whitmer said.