FedEx Sues Trump Administration, Demands Full Refund of Invalidated Tariffs

By Emmanuel Bobby

FedEx filed a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration, seeking a full refund of all tariffs it paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, after the Supreme Court ruled the tariffs were unlawfully imposed.

On Friday, the Supreme Court determined that President Donald Trump exceeded his authority when he used the emergency law to impose sweeping tariffs on most U.S. trading partners. Following that ruling, FedEx asked the U.S. Court of International Trade to order the government to repay all duties collected under the invalidated tariffs.

In the filing, FedEx said it imported goods from countries subject to the tariffs and paid the associated duties, arguing that it suffered financial harm as a result of those orders. The company, which ships roughly 17 million packages daily across hundreds of countries, said it was entitled to reimbursement.

FedEx lawyers explained that importers typically pay estimated duties when goods enter the United States, with Customs and Border Protection later confirming the final value, classification, duty rate, and total duty owed for imported merchandise.

The company has previously warned investors that the tariffs would significantly affect its earnings. In September, FedEx estimated the tariffs could reduce fiscal year 2026 profits by as much as $1 billion. FedEx Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere said the tariff environment had been especially difficult for customers, particularly small exporters.

The White House did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.

FedEx’s case appears to be the first major corporate refund claim filed since the Supreme Court’s ruling, though multiple similar suits had already been filed in the specialized trade court. Costco sued in December seeking a full refund of tariffs it paid under the same law, noting that about one-third of its U.S. sales come from imported products. Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo joined Costco’s board shortly after that filing.

Other companies, including Revlon, EssilorLuxottica, Kawasaki, Bumble Bee, Yokohama Tire, and numerous smaller firms, have also filed lawsuits in recent months challenging the tariffs and seeking refunds.