Two proposed class-action lawsuits have been filed in US courts against FedEx and EssilorLuxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban sunglasses, seeking tariff refunds for consumers. The legal actions follow a US Supreme Court ruling on February 20 that invalidated tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
The tariffs, estimated to be worth between $130 billion and $175 billion, were deemed unlawful. Over 1,000 companies, including Revlon and Costco, had previously filed protective lawsuits to secure reimbursement. A refund process is expected to be established in the coming months.
FedEx stated it would return any tariff refund to shippers and customers, but the complaint filed by Matthew Reiser of Miami argues this pledge creates no legally enforceable obligation. Reiser paid $36 in tariffs and fees on tennis shoes shipped via FedEx from Germany.
In a separate case, Nathan Ward of New York purchased Ray-Ban sunglasses from ray-ban.com in August 2025 at a higher price due to a tariff surcharge. The complaint alleges EssilorLuxottica continues to collect surcharges without refunding consumers, despite seeking refunds itself.
Barry Appleton, co-director of the Center for International Law at New York Law School, expects more consumer lawsuits, particularly against companies that itemised tariff charges. He noted the legal viability is not clear-cut but puts pressure on businesses to share refunds.
