Toymaker Hasbro has formally joined a growing list of companies asking the U.S. government to return tariffs paid under emergency trade powers that the U.S. Supreme Court determined were unlawful last week. Court documents filed on Friday show Hasbro is pursuing full refunds of the fees it paid under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act - referred to in filings as IEEPA - and is seeking interest on those repayments.
The Play-Doh maker did not disclose the amount it previously remitted in IEEPA-related duties. Hasbro's suit is one of more than 2,000 similar actions filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade since April, according to filings referenced in the complaint.
Several other prominent companies have taken parallel legal steps in recent days. French beauty conglomerate L'Oreal, British appliance company Dyson, and contact lens manufacturer Bausch + Lomb each filed suits against U.S. Customs and Border Protection earlier in the week seeking refunds tied to IEEPA charges. Beanie Babies maker Ty Inc. also initiated a comparable lawsuit this week.
Hasbro is represented in its action by the law firm Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg. The firm is also counsel for other plaintiffs in related IEEPA litigation, including Swiss sportswear company On and personal care products manufacturer Conair, according to court papers. Hasbro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The wave of litigation reflects a coordinated response from a cross-section of consumer-focused and manufacturing firms who paid the contested duties and are now seeking reimbursement following the Supreme Court's finding that the emergency trade measures were unlawful. The complaints lodged by these companies typically seek full repayment of the tariffs paid, plus interest, and have been concentrated in the U.S. Court of International Trade since filings began in April.
Context and scope
- The litigation centers on tariffs imposed under IEEPA-related emergency trade measures that the Supreme Court found to be illegal last week.
- Hasbro's suit requests full refunds of the IEEPA tariffs it paid, along with interest, though the company did not disclose the amount paid.
- More than 2,000 similar cases have been filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade since April, involving companies from sectors including consumer goods and manufacturing.
Legal representation
Hasbro has engaged Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg to pursue its claim. The same firm is listed as counsel for other corporate plaintiffs in related suits, including On and Conair, signaling a common legal strategy across multiple companies seeking IEEPA refunds.
Company response
Hasbro did not immediately respond to a request for comment, according to the filing record.