Eleven companies from Japan and the US, including Toyota Tsusho, Sumitomo Chemical, Ricoh, and Costco Wholesale, have filed lawsuits demanding refunds for reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. These legal actions were brought before the US Court of International Trade, which handles trade-related disputes.
Reports from Kyodo News and Nikkei Asia indicate that nine Japanese firms and two US companies are plaintiffs in the suits. Alongside Toyota Tsusho, Sumitomo Chemical, and Ricoh, other parties include Revlon, Yokohama Rubber, Ushio Inc., NGK Insulators, Kawasaki Motors, Yamazaki Mazak, and Proterial (formerly Hitachi Metals). It is anticipated that more companies may join the litigation.
The lawsuits seek full reimbursement if the US Supreme Court finds the reciprocal tariffs unlawful. The companies argue that even a ruling invalidating the tariffs does not guarantee automatic refunds without explicit court orders directing repayment.
The tariffs in question were imposed under President Donald Trump by invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) during a declared national emergency, bypassing Congress. Lower federal courts had previously ruled that the tariff imposition exceeded presidential authority and was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court began hearing the case in November 2025, with a ruling expected by the end of the year.
Article edited by Jack Wu
