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FedEx Sues Trump Administration for Tariff Refunds

Sophia Reyes's profile
Original Story by Your Life Buzz
February 24, 2026
FedEx Sues Trump Administration for Tariff Refunds

FedEx has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking a full refund of tariffs it paid under a rule the Supreme Court recently found exceeded presidential authority.

The global shipping company filed its complaint Monday in the U.S. Court of International Trade, naming U.S. Customs and Border Protection in its legal action. The case follows a Supreme Court ruling Friday that determined President Donald Trump overstepped his authority when he used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to impose sweeping tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.

“Accordingly ... Plaintiffs seek for themselves a full refund from Defendants of all IEEPA duties Plaintiffs have paid to the United States,” FedEx’s lawyers wrote in the filing.

Supreme Court Ruling on Tariffs

The high court concluded that Trump exceeded his presidential powers when deploying IEEPA to enact broad tariffs. The ruling effectively invalidated the legal basis for those duties.

Supreme court in Washington, D.C.
Credit: Adobe Stock

FedEx argues that while the tariffs were in place, it imported goods from countries subject to the IEEPA duties and paid the required amounts to the federal government.

The company stated in its complaint that it “paid IEEPA duties to the United States and thus [has] suffered injury caused by those orders.”

Under standard customs procedures, the importer of record pays an estimated duty when goods enter the United States. Customs and Border Protection later finalizes the appraisement by confirming the final value, classification, duty rate and total amount owed.

FedEx contends that because the Supreme Court invalidated the tariffs, it is entitled to reimbursement of the duties it previously paid.

Financial Impact on FedEx

FedEx moves approximately 17 million packages per day across hundreds of countries, according to its website. The company has previously warned investors that tariffs would affect its bottom line.

Fedex express planes
Credit: Adobe Stock

In recent quarterly earnings reports, executives cautioned that tariff-related costs could dent overall earnings. In September, before the IEEPA tariffs were rescinded, FedEx estimated the impact could reach $1 billion during fiscal year 2026.

“From a customer perspective, it has been a very stressful period,” FedEx chief customer officer Brie Carere said in September. She described the situation as “particularly challenging for small exporters.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on FedEx’s lawsuit.

Part of Broader Legal Push

FedEx appears to be the first major corporation to file a refund case following the Supreme Court’s decision. However, several companies had already brought legal challenges in the specialized international trade court in recent months.

In December, Costco filed a lawsuit seeking a full refund of tariffs it paid under IEEPA. Costco has said that roughly one-third of its U.S. sales come from imported products. Days after that lawsuit was filed, former Biden administration Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was named to Costco’s board of directors.

Other companies that have filed similar suits include Revlon, EssilorLuxottica, Kawasaki, Bumble Bee and Yokohama Tire, among others.

FedEx’s case now tests how the government will handle refund claims following the Supreme Court’s decision. The outcome could have significant implications for businesses that paid millions in tariffs under the invalidated rule.


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