This coat cost $248 in illegal tariffs. Will he ever get the money back?

This coat cost $248 in illegal tariffs. Will he ever get the money back?5 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleNatalie ShermanBusiness reporterAlex GrossomanidesThe tariffs on Bay Stater Alex Grossomanides's French down jacket totalled almost as much as the purchase itselfAlex Grossomanides thought he had scored a deal last year on a down jacket from France - until he received a bill for more than $400 in tariffs and processing fees - nearly as much as the cost of the coat. It was far higher than he had anticipated in part because the parka was, unbeknownst to him, made in Myanmar, then facing a tariff rate of 40%, which stuck him with $248.04 in charges. The Supreme Court has since declared that duty, and dozens of others that US President Donald Trump unveiled last year, invalid, setting in motion a refund process that is poised to be the biggest repayment programme in US history.But even before refunds have started, many of those hit with tariff costs, like Alex, are expecting to be left out.That's because the ruling only applies to importers who paid the tariffs directly, raising questions about how to address the grievances of those who shouldered the duties in more roundabout ways, such as higher prices, fees and other charges. Grossomanides, who paid the tariff via shipping firm DHL, says he would like to believe he will get his money back, but has not heard from the company and is not holding his breath. "They should be refunding people," the 37-year-old personal trainer from Massachusetts says. "It's all my money and I took the hit for it, which I don't think is fair."The US Court of International Trade in March ordered customs officials to refund the more than $160bn (£121bn) the government had collected, putting roughly 330,000 importers in a position to potentially win back some money.Fears that the government would fight the decision have not materialised.Customs officials working on the issue have said t...