FedEx has filed a lawsuit against the US government, seeking a full refund of tariffs imposed under Donald Trump that were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court last week. The suit, filed on Monday in the US Court of International Trade, names US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), its commissioner Rodney Scott, and the United States as defendants. The company did not specify the amount but stated it is seeking reimbursement for duties paid.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Friday that Trump overstepped his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs during peacetime, affirming that only Congress has the power to levy taxes. The decision marked the first time the court overturned a Trump policy in his second term, but it did not address whether businesses are entitled to refunds.
In a dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that refunds of billions of dollars would have significant consequences for the US Treasury. Trump swiftly rebuked the ruling and announced new global tariffs under different statutes, raising them from 10% to 15% within 24 hours. Top US trade negotiator Jamieson Greer argued the policy remains unchanged, giving US businesses leverage in world trade.
FedEx is the first major company to seek reimbursement from an estimated $175bn in levies, with other firms expected to follow. A group of Senate Democrats has called for refunds to go to small businesses and urged larger companies to pass savings on to customers. The Tax Foundation estimated the tariffs cost US households $1,000 in 2025, raising prices and reducing economic output.
