NJ businesses hopeful to receive tariff refunds
Since January 2025 , Trump has introduced a number of tariffs on a range of international imports. However, in February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president overstepped his authority in instituting the tariffs.
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Local businesses across New Jersey are hopeful they may soon get some money back after the Trump administration launched an online portal allowing companies to seek refunds on tariffs paid for imported goods.
Since January 2025 , Trump has introduced a number of tariffs on a range of international imports. However, in February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the president overstepped his authority in instituting the tariffs.
“It would be great if I could get something back without a doubt,” said Salvatore Gramaglia, owner of A&G Italian Fine Foods in Fords. “I don’t know if we’re going to get it back.”
Gramaglia came to the United States from Italy when he was just 9 years old. Today, he runs several businesses in New Jersey, all of which rely on imported products.
“When I was importing tomatoes, which I still do, a producer in Italy told me what you buy in New Jersey in product is more than what I sell through all of Europe,” he said.
When the tariffs were imposed last year, Gramaglia said he and his suppliers back in Italy both had to adjust.
“They basically ate up some of the tariffs—producers and suppliers,” he said. “So I felt it a little bit in the beginning, but now it’s stabilized.”
The business owner said that tariffs aren’t the only reason prices have increased for consumers. He pointed to spikes in cost across the board, including for domestic goods.
“Eggs went from, let’s say, $12.50 a case to $75 and up,” Gramaglia said. “Just a combination of things that caused us to increase the prices...the employees and the insurance and the gas and everything else. It’s impossible to operate unless you charge these prices.”
At this time, only businesses qualify for tariff refunds. Individual consumers are not eligible.
