BYD Sues U.S. Government to Reclaim Tariffs Imposed Since April 2025

Chinese automaker BYD recently filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade, demanding that the U.S. government refund all tariffs paid since April 2025 and challenging the legality of tariffs imposed by former President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). This marks the first time a Chinese automaker has taken legal action against U.S. tariff measures. In the complaint, four U.S.-based subsidiaries of BYD argued that the text of the IEA contains no mention of "tariffs" nor provides any statutory authority for imposing them. Although BYD has not yet sold passenger vehicles in the U.S., its American operations include buses, commercial vehicles, batteries, energy storage systems, and solar panels. The company also operates a truck manufacturing plant in Lancaster, California, employing 750 people. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing another major case concerning the legality of Trump-era tariffs.