FedEx has initiated legal action against the U.S. government, aiming to reclaim tariffs that were imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration targeting imports. This lawsuit emerges following a significant Supreme Court decision which ruled that the president lacked the authority to levy such tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
Filed in the International Trade Court, the complaint challenges the government and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), asserting that FedEx deserves a refund of customs duties, with interest, due to expenses incurred while fast-tracking shipments through customs. They refer to this as financial damages suffered by the company.
“We are seeking a complete refund of all IEEPA duties paid to the United States,” FedEx mentioned in its legal filing.
The impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling notably challenges President Trump’s approach to trade policy.
While the lawsuit doesn’t specify exactly how much FedEx has paid in customs duties, the company had previously announced an anticipated $1 billion decline in fiscal year profits due to U.S. trade policy, a part of which stems from IEEPA tariffs.
FedEx told reporters that their main priority remains helping customers manage these regulatory shifts. They emphasized that they’ve taken necessary steps to assert their rights as an importer, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s decision that deemed the tariffs unlawful.
Interestingly, there are no established procedures yet for processing refunds regarding these tariffs, according to FedEx, which adds a layer of uncertainty. The lawsuit lists CBP Director Rodney S. Scott and the United States as the parties being sued.
FedEx retains legal representation from Crowell & Mohring, a firm based in D.C., which is also handling similar claims for other companies like Costco and Revlon.
In February 2025, President Trump had implemented tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico, citing national security and unfair trading practices as justifications. Later, the measure was broadened to include reciprocal tariffs affecting 57 nations. This has led to American businesses and consumers incurring more than $175 billion in tariffs.
The Supreme Court confirmed that the IEEPA does not grant President Trump the authority to impose these tariffs, establishing that only the International Trade Court has jurisdiction over such matters.
Though CBP continued collecting duties throughout this legal dispute, they recently announced that they would cease IEEPA duty collections.
As of now, the White House and CBP have not provided a response to requests for comment regarding this situation.
