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By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
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Florsheim, the shoe brand President Donald Trump has been widely reported to favor and gift to allies, is owned by a parent company that is suing his administration over tariffs imposed during his second term.
Weyco Group Inc., which owns Florsheim Shoe Company, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade in December challenging the legality of those tariffs and seeking refunds for duties it says were unlawfully collected.
Newsweek reached out to Weyco Group Inc. and the White House via email for comment.
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Why It Matters
The lawsuit places one of Trump’s most publicly associated consumer brands in direct legal conflict with his own administration.
In its complaint, Weyco argues that the president exceeded his authority by imposing sweeping tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and asks the court to declare those actions unlawful and order refunds with interest. The case also forms part of a broader wave of challenges brought by importers seeking to preserve their right to recover tariffs following Supreme Court rulings limiting the use of IEEPA for trade measures.
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What To Know
It is not just companies taking action, either. Earlier this month, a coalition of two dozen states filed a lawsuit to block newly announced global tariffs.
The Weyco complaint, filed on December 1, 2025, alleges that Trump "claims the authority to unilaterally levy tariffs on goods imported from any and every country in the world," without notice, public comment, or congressional authorization.
The company also argues that Congress did not delegate such authority under IEEPA and that the tariffs amount to an unlawful exercise of executive power.
The filing further states that, even if IEEPA did confer such authority, the administration failed to meet the law’s requirement that an "unusual and extraordinary threat" exist, arguing that trade deficits do not constitute an emergency under the statute. The complaint asks the court to enjoin the tariffs and order "the immediate refund, with interest, of all of the unlawful duties collected."
The lawsuit names the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce, and Trump in his official capacity as defendants.
Florsheim, one of Weyco’s best‑known brands, has received unusual public attention in recent years as multiple reports described Trump wearing and gifting the shoes to cabinet members and political allies.
What Happens Next
Court records show the case has been stayed while courts await further guidance following Supreme Court litigation related to IEEPA‑based tariffs. Any party seeking to lift the stay must show good cause for earlier consideration.
If the stay is lifted and the court ultimately rules in Weyco’s favor, then the company is seeking a declaration that the tariffs were unlawful and a monetary judgment refunding duties paid, with interest.
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