We really do not think about what other people call the dirty bird, or the chicken, often, unless they’re on our plate or between buns as a chicken burger. What if I told you that this humble animal is the reason for the current IEEPA tariff debacle and why trade relations with America and the rest of the world will always be chilly and fraught with animosity? Yes, you heard that right. If you thought that IEEPA tariffs were the genesis of unfair and frankly, petty tariffs between the country and Euro, or Asian, or South American countries, you’re sadly mistaken. The chicken tariffs of 1963 was a retaliatory tariff imposed by European countries on American chicken imports, creating the template for every trade war that came after, including the IEEPA tariff which was deemed unlawful and unconstitutional not that long ago. At one point in our history, we had gotten so good at rearing broiler chicken that we flooded the world, and in particular, European markets with this surplus, which effectively decimated local chicken industries particularly in West Germany and France.
What followed was a trade war that has persisted to this very day. Before we get into this piece of interesting history, you’re probably reading this because you’re getting ready to apply for the IEEPA tariff refunds and need information about the application process, what to expect, as well as the timeline for the receipt of these refunds. It is important to note that while the process seems easy, it is nothing but, and thousands of companies that rushed to file their claims via the CAPE portal have already gotten automated denials with no concrete reason why. If you’d like expedited assistance from a top law firm that has been helping corporations file claims of this nature, read on to find out how the joint assistance of McCready Law and Frost Law Arizona will help you with this so you can focus on more pressing import and export matters as they relate to your trade corporation.
Are you looking for a best IEEPA refunds attorney? Please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more about your legal options for justice and compensation as they relate to IEEPA refunds and the process. McCready Law is proud to announce that we have joined forces with Frost Law Arizona to help corporations and businesses that were unlawfully levied duties against during the February 2025 to February 2026 period, and thanks to the Supreme Court ruling, the government was ordered to pay back all these duties to over 300,000 affected businesses across the country. Our strategic partnership means we are able to assess your claim, consolidate your entries via an in-depth forensic audit to discover just how much the government owes you, file protective orders on your behalf, and even litigate your claim in front of the Court of International Trade should the government become recalcitrant about processing your IEEPA refunds. We offer the forensic audit at NO CHARGE as well as a 100% FREE initial consultation phone-call, and we work efficiently and ensure all your valid entries are presented as a complete dossier to CBP and relevant authorities, leaving you to focus on more pressing business matters. Need assistance with IEEPA refund rejections or processing? Call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to speak with an experienced attorney and tax experts at no cost to you.
The Chicken Tariffs – What Really Happened?
In the mid-1960s, the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, as a result of pressure from Southern chicken farmers who were losing their footing as it relates to export markets, made the decision to retaliate against the European tariffs by imposing three specific tariffs on the following: dextrin, potato starch and light trucks. This was due to Europe effectively raising tariffs to begin with on chicken exports from the United States.
The administration’s decision to target the light truck category was one that was calculated, as the Volkswagen Type 2 microbus was a popular vehicle in America, and it was one that was being manufactured exclusively in Germany. That said, the 25 percent tariff was one that not only targeted this brand, but all light trucks coming into the country, which in the end protected domestic automakers. In addition, this tariff arm-twisted automakers who wanted to sell pickup trucks in the United States, as it forced them to build assembly plants on U.S. soil, which in turn created jobs and investment which would have gone to other countries. What most people do not know is that Toyota, Honda, Mercedes Benz and Nissan all have US truck plants specifically due to the Chicken Tariff.
The Parallels of the Chicken Tariff to IEEPA
The light truck tariff remains in place to this day, and the Chicken War made sure of this, many decades later.
Here are some of the lessons gleaned from this:
- Retaliatory tariffs do not end when the underlying dispute is taken care of. While the Chicken War was settled within a few years, American chicken farmers decided to diversify into other non-European markets. It is also believed that the light truck tariff was just an excuse meant to serve a domestic political purpose, and this parallel can be seen in the government implementing Section 122 tariffs immediately after the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs. This simply shows that even when disputes end, the tariffs will stick around, and in some cases, for decades.
- Legal authority is almost always superseded by political reality. The Chicken Tariff was never challenged as something that was unlawful because at that time, no-one thought to, and trade and industry was not as complicated as it currently is. The light truck tariff has therefore survived every legal affront for six decades as courts are often recalcitrant about opposing deeply entrenched trade policy. IEEPA, while novel, was replaced by Section 301 and Section 232 which are not new. As a result, expect little to no pushback on these latter tariffs.
Best IEEPA Tariffs Refund Lawyers – Call Us Today!
Tariffs will always be part and parcel of the trade landscape in the country. However, taking proactive measures as well as having proper legal representation can mean the difference between getting your refund back in full and having to forego hundreds of thousands of dollars because you did not apply for the same or negotiate from a place of power. If you are owed IEEPA tariff refunds, please reach out to McCready Law which has joined hands with Frost Law Arizona so we can help facilitate this on your behalf. The forensic process is FREE, and so is our first consultation with you. Please call us NOW at (314) 481-63338 to learn more. Thanks for choosing us, and we look forward to helping you.