SEATTLE (Diya TV) — Costco is challenging the Trump administration in court as it seeks to protect its right to recover millions of dollars in tariffs. The company joined a fast-growing list of businesses filing lawsuits ahead of a key Supreme Court ruling that could overturn President Donald Trump’s global tariff policy.
Costco filed its lawsuit Friday in the U.S. Court of International Trade. The company asked the court to guarantee full refunds of the tariffs it has already paid this year. It also asked the court to stop the government from collecting additional duties while the Supreme Court reviews the case.
Costco said it faces a major financial risk as a Dec. 15 deadline approaches. That date marks the “liquidation” of certain import entries, which is the final calculation of tariffs owed on imported goods. Liquidation limits an importer’s ability to protest tariff charges, and not all liquidations can be appealed. Because of this deadline, Costco said it could lose the money it already paid, even if the Supreme Court rules that the tariffs were unlawful.
Dozens of other companies have filed similar lawsuits to ensure they can receive refunds if the Supreme Court strikes down the tariffs. These cases involve Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” on many U.S. trading partners and his “fentanyl tariffs” on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada. Trump used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, to impose the tariffs. This law allows a president to act in a national emergency, but several lower courts ruled that it does not give a president the power to impose broad, long-term tariffs.
In August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a ruling from the Court of International Trade. The court said Trump did not have legal authority to impose the tariffs under IEEPA. In a 7–4 decision, the court wrote that Congress holds exclusive power over taxes and tariffs.
During Supreme Court arguments on Nov. 5, several justices appeared skeptical of the administration’s position. The Court agreed to hear the case on an expedited schedule, but it has not said when it will issue a decision. Costco said importers need their own court rulings to secure refunds. It warned that even if the Supreme Court invalidates Trump’s tariffs, importers may not automatically receive money back unless they file a separate legal action.
White House spokesman Kush Desai said Costco’s lawsuit shows how important the tariffs are to the U.S. economy. He said the administration believes the tariffs are lawful and warned that refunding hundreds of millions of dollars could carry steep economic consequences.
“The White House looks forward to the Supreme Court’s speedy and proper resolution of this matter,” Desai said.
Costco did not say how much money it seeks to recover. CNBC has asked the company for comment.
The Supreme Court ruling could reshape U.S. trade policy and affect a wide range of companies that rely on global supply chains. Many importers say the tariffs have raised costs and disrupted business planning. The administration says the duties are necessary to protect national security and strengthen U.S. leverage in trade negotiations.
