Logistics giant FedEx (NYSE:FDX) has launched legal action against the United States government, filing a lawsuit on Monday in the U.S. Court of International Trade to recover payments made under President Donald Trump’s emergency tariff measures. The case marks one of the most prominent attempts so far to reclaim funds after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that the tariffs were unlawful.
Trade lawyers expect a surge of similar claims aimed at recovering billions of dollars following the landmark decision. However, the exact mechanism for issuing refunds still needs to be determined by a lower court, adding complexity to the process.
Economists at the Penn-Wharton Budget Model estimate that more than $175 billion in tariff revenue collected by the United States could be eligible for repayment after the Supreme Court voted 6–3 on Friday that Trump exceeded his authority by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) — a law intended for sanctions — to impose tariffs on imported goods.
“Plaintiffs seek for themselves a full refund from Defendants of all IEEPA duties Plaintiffs have paid to the United States,” FedEx stated in its filing, referring to the tariffs introduced under the law.
FedEx, along with its logistics subsidiary, acted as the importer of record for shipments subject to IEEPA tariffs. The Memphis-based company did not disclose the total amount it is seeking to recover.
The lawsuit names U.S. Customs and Border Protection, its commissioner Rodney Scott, and the United States government as defendants. Neither CBP nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment.
Washington, D.C.-based law firm Crowell & Moring is representing FedEx in the case and directed inquiries to the company, which declined to comment at this stage.
Crowell & Moring is also representing several other companies pursuing tariff refunds under IEEPA, including warehouse retailer Costco, cosmetics company Revlon, eyewear group EssilorLuxottica, and additional corporate claimants.
According to Ron Ciotti, a partner at Boston-based law firm Hinckley Allen who represents construction contractors and developers across the U.S., importers, distributors and suppliers may be best positioned to secure refunds because their documentation typically includes detailed customs filings or invoices that clearly identify tariff-related costs.
“If there was a tariff escalation in your contract or a price adjustment clause based on tariffs, and that’s why the price went up, if you had a contract that stated that, then you might be able to get a refund,” Ciotti said.
Separately, California Governor Gavin Newsom — widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential candidate in 2028 — called for Americans to receive tariff refunds following the Supreme Court’s decision.
“I’ve heard some (people) saying this is such a win for the consumer, because they should get refunds back on certain products that would have been under tariffs,” Ciotti said.
“I don’t see how they can,” he added, noting that many businesses and consumers paid higher prices without written evidence linking price increases directly to tariffs, which could make refund claims difficult to prove.