FedEx Sues US After Supreme Court Ruling On Tariffs

India-West News Desk

NEW YORK, NY – FedEx has filed suit against the U.S. government, demanding what it calls a “full refund” of tariffs it paid under trade measures imposed last year by President Donald Trump that were later struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States.

In an 11 page complaint lodged February 23 at the U.S. Court of International Trade here, Federal Express Corp and its affiliate FedEx Logistics said, “Plaintiffs seek for themselves a full refund from Defendants of all IEEPA duties Plaintiffs have paid to the United States.” The filing names as defendants U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which collects tariffs, its commissioner Rodney Scott, and the federal government.

The complaint does not specify how much FedEx paid in IEEPA related duties. However, the company said in September that U.S. trade policies would result in a roughly $1 billion dollar hit to its fiscal year earnings, about 16 percent of its prior year total. Not all of that impact was tied directly to IEEPA tariffs.

FedEx’s case appears to be the first brought by a major American corporation seeking repayment after the high court’s decision. Other companies, including retail giant Costco, had already filed claims before the ruling. Those cases remain pending before the same trade court.

The lawsuit follows a February 20 Supreme Court ruling that tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were illegal. In that decision, the justices said the Court of International Trade has “exclusive jurisdiction” over the IEEPA tariffs, effectively directing refund disputes to that court.

In a statement posted on its website, FedEx said, “While the Supreme Court did not address the issue of refunds, FedEx has taken necessary action to protect the company’s rights as an importer of record to seek duty refunds from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.”

The company added, “At this time, however, no refund process has been established by regulators or the courts. We will communicate any relevant information and updates in a timely manner, and we appreciate your patience as we wait for additional guidance and clarity from the U.S. government and the courts.”