FedEx has become the first major U.S. company to sue the federal government for a refund on tariffs deemed unlawful by the Supreme Court.
The logistics giant filed a complaint with the U.S. Court of International Trade on Monday, seeking a “full refund” on all duties paid under tariffs enacted by former President Donald Trump using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court struck down these so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs in a 6-3 ruling on Friday, confirming they were unlawfully imposed.
FedEx’s filing states the duties applied to goods imported from “nearly every foreign country,” either for its own operations or those transported on behalf of clients. The company claims it was responsible for paying these levies.
While the ruling grants the court authority to order refunds, it remains unclear if FedEx would pass any recovered funds to customers, who ultimately bore the costs. The company noted that no refund mechanism currently exists but pledged to update clients on developments.
In his dissent, Justice Brett Kavanaugh warned the refund process could become a “mess,” with “significant consequences for the U.S. Treasury.”
