FedEx Hit with Class Suit Over Section 301 Surcharge Refund After Supreme Court Ruling
A U.S. importer filed suit in federal court on Feb. 24 seeking refunds of surcharges FedEx applied for Section 301 tariffs after the Supreme Court ruled the administration lacked authority to impose them. The complaint alleges unjust enrichment and seeks class certification, potentially exposing FedEx to substantial refund liabilities.
1. Lawsuit Filed Over Tariff Surcharges
A U.S. importer filed suit in the Northern District of California on Feb. 24, claiming FedEx charged unwarranted surcharges tied to Trump-era Section 301 tariffs on shipments. The plaintiff demands full reimbursement of fees plus interest and seeks class certification to include similarly affected shippers.
2. Supreme Court Ruling Removes Tariff Authority
On Feb. 24, the Supreme Court dismissed the administration’s appeal upholding Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports, effectively invalidating the legal basis for related surcharge collection by carriers. This ruling undercuts FedEx’s justification for applying the fees after the decision took effect.
3. Allegations of Unjust Enrichment
The complaint accuses FedEx of unjustly enriching itself by retaining surcharge revenue even after the Supreme Court ruling nullified tariff authority. It calls for return of all collected fees and alleges common legal questions suitable for class-wide resolution.
4. Potential Financial Exposure
If the case is certified as a class action, FedEx could face multi-million-dollar refund liabilities and may need to adjust its tariff surcharge policy. The lawsuit also raises reputational risks and potential operational changes in how FedEx handles government-mandated fees.