By Bloomberg — December 2, 2025
Costco Wholesale Corp. has joined a growing list of businesses suing the Trump administration to secure eligibility for refunds if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the president’s global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The company filed its complaint on November 28 in the U.S. Court of International Trade, saying uncertainty about guaranteed refunds prompted the action.
Costco’s suit follows dozens of similar cases filed since late October challenging the administration’s use of emergency powers to levy tariffs. The Supreme Court heard arguments on the tariffs on November 5 and put the matter on a fast track; it has not yet issued a ruling. Lower courts have ruled against the administration in several early suits but allowed the tariffs to remain in effect pending the Supreme Court’s decision.
The lawsuit does not specify how much Costco has paid in duties. It says immediate court intervention is necessary because Customs and Border Protection denied the company’s request to extend the schedule for finalizing tariff determinations, a denial Costco argues could jeopardize its ability to obtain full refunds later.
White House spokesperson Kush Desai said the suit “highlights” the economic consequences of failing to uphold the tariffs and expressed confidence in the Court’s resolution. Other major companies recently filing challenges include Revlon Consumer Products Corp. and Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp.
The tariffs, which have generated tens of billions of dollars monthly, have disrupted the retail sector and threatened higher consumer prices, though exemptions and negotiated rate changes have blunted some effects. Retailers say electronics and apparel, among other items, are pricier than a year ago.
Costco says it is working to mitigate tariff impacts—rerouting products to non-U.S. markets, ordering inventory earlier, consolidating suppliers, and altering merchandising when items become too expensive. CFO Gary Millerchip told Bloomberg that Costco is seeking efficiencies with suppliers and sourcing from different countries to offset tariff effects. The company cites its large scale and limited assortment as advantages in navigating the changes, though executives acknowledge price outcomes remain uncertain.
