'Why shouldn’t we get our money back too?' Normal people are starting to demand Trump tariff refunds | Fortune
Following a Supreme Court ruling, consumers are filing class-action lawsuits to demand refunds for tariffs illegally imposed under the Trump administration.Summary
Consumers are beginning to demand refunds for tariffs previously paid, following a Supreme Court decision on February 20th that invalidated approximately $130 to $175 billion in tariffs implemented under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). At least two class-action lawsuits have been filed against FedEx and EssilorLuxottica (Ray-Ban) seeking to ensure consumers receive a portion of any refunds the companies obtain. Plaintiffs, such as Matthew Reiser and Nathan Ward, claim they paid higher prices due to tariff surcharges and seek reimbursement. While FedEx stated it would return any refunds to shippers and customers, the lawsuit argues this is not a legally binding commitment. Legal experts anticipate more consumer lawsuits, particularly against companies that itemized tariff charges on invoices. Barry Appleton of New York Law School notes that consumers are simply asking, “if those duties were illegal, why shouldn’t we get our money back too?” The refund process is currently being established through the U.S. Court of International Trade or U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
(Source：Fortune)