FedEx Sues Trump Administration for Tariff Refund After Supreme Court Ruling

Delivery company seeks to recoup costs from illegal tariffs set under Trump's emergency powers.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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FedEx has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade requesting a refund on the tariffs it paid under President Donald Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled that these tariffs were illegal. FedEx has stated it will return any refund it receives to the shippers and customers who originally paid the tariffs.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's ruling that the Trump administration's tariffs were illegal opens the door for companies like FedEx that paid these tariffs to seek refunds. This could provide financial relief to businesses that were impacted by the tariffs, which were widely criticized as an overreach of presidential authority.

The details

FedEx filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade to request a refund on the tariffs it paid under the Trump administration's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. More than 1,000 other companies have also filed suits in the same court seeking to recoup costs from the illegal tariffs, including major corporations like Costco and Revlon.

  • On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the tariffs set under the IEEPA were illegal.
  • On Thursday, FedEx stated it will issue refunds to shippers and consumers if it receives a refund from the government.

The players

FedEx

A major delivery company that filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a refund on tariffs it paid under the Trump administration's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who set tariffs under the IEEPA, which the Supreme Court later ruled were illegal.

Liberty Justice Center

A libertarian-leaning legal organization that represented some of the original plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case that ruled against the Trump administration's tariffs.

Neal Katyal

An attorney who is co-counsel with the Liberty Justice Center in filing motions to help set up a process for companies and individuals to receive refunds for the illegal tariffs.

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What they’re saying

“If refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges.”

— FedEx (republicworld.com)

“Setting up a system for refunds will likely be a lengthy process.”

— Liberty Justice Center, Representing plaintiffs in Supreme Court case (republicworld.com)

What’s next

The Liberty Justice Center and co-counsel Neal Katyal have filed coordinated motions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit as well as the U.S. Court of International Trade to help establish a process for companies and individuals to receive refunds for the illegal tariffs. The government's response to these motions is due on Friday.

The takeaway

The Supreme Court's ruling against the Trump administration's tariffs sets the stage for businesses that paid these tariffs, like FedEx, to seek refunds. However, the process of setting up a system for these refunds is likely to be complex and time-consuming, highlighting the ongoing legal and administrative challenges stemming from the previous administration's use of emergency economic powers.