Costco sues federal government over Trump-era tariffs, seeks refund rights

Wholesale retailer Costco would like a tariff refund from the U.S. government, if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing them.

Costco sued the U.S. federal government last month over the tariffs, claiming it is owed a refund of duties paid on imports. 

The Nov. 28 lawsuit filed by Costco in the U.S. Court of International Trade in Manhattan said there is uncertainty about recouping the duties from the tariffs already paid due if the Supreme Court rules that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not give the president the authority to put tariffs on imported goods. Costco’s lawsuit lists the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency as the plaintiff, as it had denied the company’s request to delay liquidation of its import entries earlier in the month, leaving the duties set to become final and potentially preventing Costco from recovering payments if the tariffs are later ruled unlawful.