Bold claim first: FedEx says it will pass along any tariff refunds it receives from the U.S. government to the customers who paid them in the first place. And the details behind that pledge are more nuanced than they might appear.
Megan Cerullo of CBS MoneyWatch reports that FedEx announced on Thursday its intention to reimburse shippers and consumers for tariff charges if refunds are issued to the company. The exact timing and method for obtaining refunds will hinge on forthcoming government guidance and any court rulings.
FedEx conditioned its commitment on the possibility of refunds arising from a legal pathway. The company has already filed suit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a full repayment of tariff payments made under policies the Supreme Court later deemed unlawful under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).
In a statement to CBS News, FedEx explained that it acted to safeguard its rights as an importer of record and to pursue duty refunds from U.S. Customs and Border Protection following the Supreme Court decision. The high court’s February 20 ruling did not settle the question of refunds for tariffs imposed last year.
Since then, multiple firms—Bausch + Lomb, Dyson, and L’Oréal among them—have filed lawsuits seeking tariff refunds. Legal experts anticipate the dispute will play out in court for years, likely stretching the timeline for resolution.
On Tuesday, Liberty Justice Center, which helped represent some plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case, together with co-counsel Neal Katyal, filed coordinated motions with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Court of International Trade. The aim is to establish a streamlined process for processing refunds, with the government expected to respond by Friday.
Edited by Alain Sherter. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related topics include the Supreme Court, tariffs, and FedEx.
