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by Vasili Varlamos
SALEM, Ore. (KATU) — A new class action lawsuit filed in Oregon accuses Nike of raising product prices during the Trump-era tariff hikes, then potentially standing to profit again after those tariffs were later ruled unlawful.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Oregon, claims Nike passed tariff-related costs on to consumers through higher retail prices for shoes and apparel sold across the country.
Plaintiffs argue the company now stands to receive refunds from the federal government after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that the tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, were unlawful.
The lawsuit claims that it could amount to a “double recovery”, with consumers first paying higher prices at the register, while Nike later recovers those same tariff costs through government refunds.
“Nike stands to recover the same tariff payments twice, once from consumers through higher prices and again from the federal government through tariff refunds,” the complaint states.
The proposed class action was filed on behalf of consumers in several states who say they purchased Nike products that were subject to tariff-related price increases between June 1, 2025, and Feb. 24, 2026.
SEE ALSO | Federal court invalidates Trump tariffs imposed after Supreme Court loss
According to the lawsuit, Nike publicly acknowledged tariffs were impacting its business and announced price increases on some footwear and apparel beginning in June 2025.
The filing cites reports that Nike raised some shoe prices by $5 to $10 and some apparel prices by $2 to $10 while warning investors that tariffs could cost the company roughly $1 billion annually.
The lawsuit points to Nike’s reliance on overseas manufacturing, particularly in countries impacted by the tariffs.
The filing states Nike sources a large share of its footwear and apparel from countries including Vietnam, Indonesia, and China.
Nike declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Plaintiffs are seeking restitution, damages, and court orders preventing Nike from retaining tariff refunds tied to costs allegedly passed onto consumers.
Similar lawsuits have already been filed against several other major companies, including Costco, FedEx, UPS, Nintendo, and the Ray-Ban parent company, EssilorLuxottica,
Those lawsuits allege that businesses unfairly passed on tariff-related price increases and sought refunds from the federal government after the tariffs were struck down.
2026 Sinclair, Inc.
