FedEx Corp. said it plans to return any tariff refunds it receives to the shippers and customers who paid them.

“If refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges,” the company said in a Feb. 26 statement.

Earlier this week, FedEx filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking a refund on what it paid for tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. On Feb. 20, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled these tariffs are illegal. 

“We are committed to transparency and will communicate clearly as additional direction becomes available from the U.S. government and the court,” FedEx said. 

Treasury secretary questions FedEx CEO’s China connections

In an interview with NBC after the State of the Union address, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Trump’s updated global tariff for 150 days under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

“The goal is to reassure American industry and stop unfair trade practices,” he said. 

In response to a question by NBC’s Kristen Welker about the FedEx lawsuit, Bessent noted that FedEx CEO Raj Subramaniam is on the U.S.-China Business Council, “which I find very interesting, because China is the largest payer of U.S. tariffs, so take that for what you will.”

He stressed that the Supreme Court remanded the refund issue to a lower court, and it could be more than 40 days before any additional action is taken. 

Bessent also said he wants the CEOs of the corporations seeking tariff refunds to clearly explain how they are “going to get the money back to the consumers.”