The US logistics company FedEx has asked the US government for a refund of tariffs from the term of President Donald Trump sued. The lawsuit was filed this Monday with the US Court of International Trade, reports the Reuters news agency, citing court documents. The Supreme Court of the United States had declared the tariffs in question illegal last week.
The tariffs were imposed by Trump bypassing Congress, citing an emergency law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The complaint states, FedEx demand a full refund of all customs duties paid by the company under this emergency law. The company argues that it suffered damage because it paid tariffs on imported goods, the legal basis of which has now been found to be unlawful. The group did not provide any information about the amount required.
The lawsuit is directed against the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), its head Rodney Scott and the USA. There were initially no statements from the authority or the US government.
Democrats present tariff refund bill
The law firm Crowell & Moring, which represents FedEx, also conducts similar proceedings for other companies. According to estimates, more than 1,000 corporate lawsuits since spring filed with the U.S. Court of International Trade. These include the retailer Costco, the cosmetics company Revlon and the eyewear manufacturer EssilorLuxottica. They are also represented by Crowell & Moring.
A group of 22 senators Democrats Meanwhile, introduced a bill that would require the Trump administration to fully repay collected customs revenue. The bill stipulates that the funds will be refunded with interest within 180 days.
However, the chances of success are considered slim: the Democrats are in the minority in the Senate, which is why it is unclear whether the draft will even be allowed to be voted on. The Republicans also control the House of Representatives. Its chairman, Mike Johnson, has already rejected the plan: The US government must clarify the situation; it is not Parliament’s turn for the time being. Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) economists estimate more than $175 billion in potential refunds. That would correspond to around 2.5 percent of the US federal budget.
Most recently, Donald Trump had his country’s trading partners threatened with even higher tariffs. Anyone who plays “games” now must expect “worse,” he warned. The European Parliament had previously stopped the customs agreement with the USA from last year. This means that numerous EU tariffs on US industrial products that should actually be abolished remain in place for the time being.
