L’Oréal, Dyson and Bausch + Lomb have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Government seeking refunds for tariffs paid under former President Donald Trump’s emergency trade measures, court filings revealed on February 23, 2026. The actions follow a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed the tariffs unlawful.
The complaints, lodged with the U.S. Court of International Trade, join a growing wave of legal challenges from businesses seeking reimbursement for duties paid as a result of Trump’s tariffs, initially announced in April 2025 and implemented in August of the same year. The tariffs were enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977, allowing the President to impose levies on various countries and goods. The UK and China were among nations that reached reciprocal trade agreements with the Trump administration.
L’Oréal’s case was brought forward by its Travel Retail Americas division, which specializes in beauty products sold in travel environments like airports and cruise lines. Sol de Janeiro, a U.S. Skincare and fragrance company, too filed a complaint earlier this week, according to reports. FedEx also initiated legal action in response to the Supreme Court’s decision.
Economists at the Penn Wharton Budget Model estimate that reversing the IEEPA tariffs could generate up to $175 billion in refunds. However, the process of recovering these funds is expected to be protracted, potentially taking months or years to resolve in lower courts. Over 1,400 importers, including Costco and Goodyear, have already filed lawsuits, though this number still represents a small fraction of companies potentially eligible for refunds.
The lawsuits reach after the Supreme Court ruled on February 20th that Trump had exceeded his authority by utilizing IEEPA to impose the tariffs. Despite the ruling, Trump has since imposed a new global tariff of 10% on imports, with plans to increase it to 15%. The new levies vary by country, with some, like the UK, facing higher tariffs than previously agreed, while others, such as China and Brazil, are subject to lower rates.
Downing Street stated on Monday that “nothing is off the table” in response to Trump’s threats of a 15% global tariff, leaving open the possibility of reciprocal trade levies on American goods and services. The UK government, however, emphasized its focus on “constructive engagement” with the Trump administration, acknowledging the potential harm a trade war could inflict on businesses.
L’Oréal, Dyson, and Sol de Janeiro have not disclosed the specific refund amounts they are seeking in their court filings. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), led by Commissioner Rodney S. Scott, and the United States of America are named as defendants in the lawsuits.
