Photo credit: WNEM TV5

CBS News

Apr. 2, 2026

Elaine Rojas-Castillo

For years, tariffs, or taxes on imported goods, have driven up costs for businesses across Michigan.

On Thursday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an executive directive to help businesses receive refunds, more than a month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump did not have the authority to impose most of his sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Under a new directive, four state agencies are working to assess the impact.

“The president’s tariffs have jacked up costs, and Michiganders have been paying the price,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Now that the Supreme Court has ruled that these tariffs are illegal, it’s time for Michiganders to get their money back. This executive directive will show us the damage from these irresponsible tariffs and help get refunds back to Michigan businesses.” Those added costs have rippled through the local economy, especially for manufacturers and the auto industry.

Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director of MichAuto, said, “In the auto industry alone, probably about $35 billion overall. That’s caused a lot of problems for companies.”

Stevens Jr. says this directive shows the state is still trying to understand just how much tariffs have cost businesses and how to respond effectively.

“The consumer has felt it. But really, the victim has really been these small businesses, not just the big businesses, but the small businesses. And in some cases, it has forced them to go out of business,” said Stevens Jr. Now, some companies are trying to get that money back, but the process to do so is still taking shape. “Right now, to my knowledge, the portal is not even up yet where people can apply for that, and once it is up, it will take a minimum of 45 days,” said Stevens Jr.