How Major Equipment Manufacturers Are Claiming Tariff Refunds In 2026

The tariff story in the construction equipment industry took a dramatic turn earlier this year when the Supreme Court ruled Trump’s IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act) tariffs illegal. Since then, U.S. companies have been filing for refunds with Customs and Border Protection, and the numbers coming out of the latest OEM earnings reports are huge.

But here’s the part that doesn’t get as much attention: the refunds are real, the relief is real, and the tariff pressure is still very much alive at the same time. Today, this applies to manufacturers, dealers and contractors who purchase heavy construction equipment. 

How the IEEPA tariffs were knocked down

In February 2026, the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump lacked the legal authority to impose tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The court found that while IEEPA allows the president to control imports, it does not permit the imposition of tariffs, which the court described as unbounded in scope, amount, and duration.

The original IEEPA tariffs had placed a 25 percent duty on most Canadian and Mexican imports and a 10 percent duty on most Chinese imports, based on concerns about illegal drug trafficking from those countries. The tariffs also targeted trade deficits with various countries.

Starting in April 2026, U.S. businesses will be able to apply directly to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for IEEPA refunds. Reporting from CNBC says the U.S. government has refunded about $100 billion of the $166 billion it collected from those tariffs, a big number that’s now showing up in OEM earnings reports across the industry. 

Which Manufacturers of Construction Equipment Are Receiving Refunds

The most recent wave of earnings releases included refund numbers from several large OEMs. Here’s what the companies have reported:

Caterpillar has gotten $392 million in tariff refunds. During the earnings call, CFO Kyle Epley said the company expects tariffs of about $600 million in the third quarter, with about 50% of that related specifically to the construction industries segment.

John Deere reported $110 million in refunds in Q3 and $382 million in the first nine months of 2026. The company expects to get another $272 million by the end of the year.

Kubota expects around $220 million in tariff refunds to help support its operating profit for the full 2026 fiscal year, a meaningful contribution given the margin pressures the company has been dealing with.

Komatsu is expecting a $180 million refund on the IEEPA tariffs, which will offer some relief to a segment that has seen operating income squeezed despite relatively stable sales volumes.

Doosan Bobcat expects to recover $81 million in tariffs paid on equipment and parts imported into the United States, which the company has recorded as revenue for the second quarter.

Prior disclosures included refunds from outside the construction equipment space, including $1.3 billion at Ford, $500 million recorded as a favourable adjustment at General Motors, and $455 million at Stellantis booked as a cost adjustment. 

Why The Refunds Do Not Solve The Tariff Problem

This is the part of the story that matters most if you are buying or selling equipment right now.

The IEEPA refunds are real, and they are meaningful. $392 million back to Caterpillar and $382 million to Deere are numbers that move the needle on margins. But the overall tariff environment has not changed. It has become more complicated in some ways.

Section 232 tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper remain in place. In June, the Trump administration announced a temporary relief measure, reducing tariffs on some construction and agricultural equipment from 25% to 15% through the end of 2027. That gives some breathing space but runs out and does not get to the root of the cost pressure.

Tariffs on Chinese goods under Section 301 remain between 7.5% and 100% and continue to impact supply chains for components across the industry. These costs still apply to engines, hydraulics, electronics, and structural components sourced or manufactured with Chinese-origin materials.

The U.S.-Canada trade situation just got a whole lot worse. In August 2026, Trump said he would impose a 50% tariff on $27.6 billion in Canadian goods, beginning on August 22. In response, Canada said it would impose retaliatory tariffs ranging from 15% to 50% on a variety of U.S. products, effective Sept. 8. Categories affecting construction equipment include tower cranes, 25%; bulldozer and angle-dozer blades, 15%; and parts for boring and sinking machinery, 25%.

That’s what the Associated Equipment Distributors’ assessment says. Without the IEEPA authority, the administration has just moved on to other long-standing tools: Section 232, Section 301 and now Section 338,” Daniel Fisher, senior VP for government and external affairs, told Equipment World. “The result,” he said, “is a perfect storm of supply chain chaos that is not likely to improve in the near term.” 

Implications for the Used Construction Equipment Market

The practical implication of all this for contractors and fleet managers is simple. “No indication that we’re going to see new construction equipment prices drop much in the near term.” Manufacturers are paying ongoing Section 232, Section 301, and now Section 338 costs while also receiving tariff refunds. The net is stabilization, not reduction, at best.

That dynamic continues to buoy the used heavy equipment market. The rising cost of new equipment and the unpredictability of supply chain lead times make quality used machinery an increasingly attractive alternative. And that’s been the story for the last two years, and the current tariff environment doesn’t provide any clear reason to expect that to change heading into 2027.

The AED’s assessment is worth taking seriously if you’re a buyer who has been waiting to see how the tariff situation resolves before making a purchase decision. The chaos is not clearing. It’s changing. Waiting for clarity that may never come in any reasonable time frame is a risk in and of itself. 

With new equipment prices holding firm and tariff uncertainty showing no signs of easing, quality used construction equipment remains one of the most practical choices for contractors managing costs in 2026. MY-Equipment stocks a wide range of used heavy machinery — including excavators, motor graders, wheel loaders, and dozers — available out of Houston, Texas. Browse our current inventory or contact our team to find the right machine at the right price.

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