Major shipping companies UPS, FedEx, and DHL have begun filing claims for tariff refunds with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated certain Trump-era tariffs. The companies are seeking refunds for levies imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which the court deemed unconstitutional in February. UPS, FedEx, and DHL have pledged to return the refunded money to customers who paid the tariffs.
CBP launched a refund portal on Monday, allowing importers of record to submit claims. The process will be phased, with the first phase covering entries finalized within the last 80 days. Refunds are expected to take 60 to 90 days to process once claims are approved.
UPS confirmed it will request refunds on behalf of customers where the company was the importer of record. FedEx and DHL have also begun filing claims and plan to reimburse affected customers once refunds are received. The companies emphasized their commitment to supporting customers through the process.
Background and Context
The Supreme Court ruled in February that the IEEPA tariffs were illegally imposed, prompting CBP to establish the refund portal. Only the importer of record can file claims, meaning individual consumers cannot request refunds directly. The companies will handle the process for their customers.
Long-Term Implications
The refund process could take months, and not all tariffs are affected. Levies under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section 301 remain in place. The companies are closely monitoring legal developments and will provide updates as available.
Company Statements
- UPS: "We will work to request and retrieve IEEPA tariff refunds from CBP on our customers' behalf."
- FedEx: "If refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds for IEEPA tariffs paid to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges."
- DHL: (No direct statement provided in sources).
The companies have assured customers that they will be reimbursed once refunds are received from CBP.