BYD Joins $13.3B Tariff Lawsuit Against Trump Administration; Case Filed Jan 26 in U.S. Court of International Trade

BYD (002594-CN)(01211-HK) has filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade on January 26, joining thousands of companies challenging President Trump’s tariff policies and seeking refunds for all taxes paid since last April. The case, submitted to the CIT, alleges the executive branch lacks authority under existing law to impose border taxes and argues the text of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not include the term “tariff” or equivalent. BYD, which sells commercial vehicles in Lancaster, California, employs about 750 workers and has operations in batteries, energy storage, and buses, is seeking refund rights if the court rules the tariffs unlawful. The lawsuit aligns with the pending V.O.S. Selections v. United States case before the U.S. Supreme Court, which centers on whether the president can use IEEPA to levy broad taxes without congressional authorization. With over 91 days of deliberation already logged, justices are splitting over the Major Questions Doctrine’s reach into national security and foreign policy matters. Over 1,000 companies, including Costco, Toyota, and Goodyear, have also sued to avoid strict “清算” deadlines that bar refunds even if tariffs are later deemed unconstitutional.