SEATTLE, WA — Costco Wholesale filed a lawsuit Friday against the Trump administration, asking the U.S. Court of International Trade to refund all tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The company argues the administration exceeded its authority when President Trump used the law to impose broad “reciprocal” tariffs on imported goods.
In its filing, Costco asserts that IEEPA does not authorize a president to set import duties, calling the tariff orders unlawful. The lawsuit comes as the Supreme Court reviews Trump’s tariff agenda, with conservative and liberal justices expressing skepticism during November oral arguments about whether the law grants such sweeping economic powers. Lower courts previously ruled against the administration but allowed the tariffs to remain in effect while litigation proceeds.
Costco did not specify how much it has paid under the tariffs, though importers collectively have paid nearly $90 billion in IEEPA-based duties through September, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. On recent earnings calls, the company acknowledged the tariffs have increased costs on some imported food items but said it avoided price increases on staple products such as pineapples and bananas.
The retailer joins a growing list of companies seeking refunds, including Revlon, EssilorLuxottica, Kawasaki, Bumble Bee, and Yokohama Tire. Through October, the government had collected $205 billion in total tariffs, highlighting the financial stakes of the legal battle as the Supreme Court weighs the limits of presidential tariff authority.
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