Feb. 23, 2026 — New York FedEx Corporation filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade here against the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott, seeking a full refund of all tariffs it paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), days after the Supreme Court ruled the duties unlawful.
The suit, lodged Monday, demands refunds with interest and compensation for related costs, stemming from President Donald Trump’s invocation of IEEPA in February 2025 to impose emergency tariffs on imports from China, Canada, Mexico and later 57 countries, citing national security and trade concerns. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on February 20 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that IEEPA does not authorize presidential tariffs, affirming the trade court’s jurisdiction.
“Plaintiffs seek for themselves a full refund from Defendants of all IEEPA duties Plaintiffs have paid to the United States,” the complaint states.
FedEx, acting as importer of record for many shipments, estimates tariffs contributed to a potential $1 billion hit to fiscal 2026 earnings, part of over $175 billion collected government-wide. The company acted as the first major U.S. firm to file post-ruling, prioritizing customer support amid regulatory shifts.
“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 following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that the tariffs issued under [IEEPA] are unlawful,” FedEx stated.
No refund process has been established by regulators or courts, CBP ceased collections Tuesday, and trade attorneys anticipate a flood of similar suits from importers like Costco and Revlon, already pending at the trade court.
In a dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted potential fiscal impacts:
“Refunds of billions of dollars would have significant consequences for the US treasury,” per coverage.
The Reuters breaking post on the filing drew rapid engagement with nearly 1,900 likes, 740 reposts and 113,000 views within hours.
