FedEx has taken legal action against the US government, demanding a full refund of tariffs imposed under Donald Trump, after the US Supreme Court ruled last week that the tariffs were imposed unlawfully.
The case, filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade, names the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its commissioner, Rodney Scott, as defendants. FedEx did not specify the amount it seeks to reclaim, but said it is entitled to a refund as an importer of record.
The lawsuit represents the first major attempt by a company to recoup funds from the estimated $175 billion in tariffs imposed under Trump’s trade regime. Other companies are expected to follow suit.
In a 6-3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court found that Trump exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping peacetime import tariffs. The court ruled that Congress retained sole constitutional authority to impose taxes, including tariffs.
However, the judges did not directly address the question of whether importers would be entitled to refunds. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that the ruling leaves open questions about how billions of dollars already collected could be returned and warned that large repayments could have a significant impact on the U.S. Treasury.
FedEx said it was taking action to protect its rights following the ruling. “While the Supreme Court did not address the issue of refunds, FedEx has taken the necessary actions to seek customs refunds from U.S. Customs and Border Protection,” the company said.
The decision marks the first time the Supreme Court has overturned a major policy initiative from Trump’s second term and challenged the administration’s broad interpretation of executive authority in trade matters.
Despite the setback, Trump signaled he would press ahead with imposing new tariffs under alternative legal authority. He announced a temporary global tariff of 10 percent, which was subsequently increased to 15 percent within 24 hours.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the policy direction remained unchanged and argued that tariffs provide leverage in international negotiations.
Senate Democrats have demanded that any refunded tariff revenue be prioritized over small businesses and consumers. According to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, the tariffs effectively amounted to a $1,000 tax increase on U.S. households in 2025, contributing to higher prices and lower economic output.
If successful, FedEx’s lawsuit could open the door to a wave of refund demands from importers and potentially reshape the financial legacy of one of the most aggressive trade policies in modern U.S. history.
