알파경제 - Costco Customer Sues Over Price Hikes Linked to Trump Tariffs

Source = Costco

[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A Costco customer has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. retail giant, demanding refunds for price increases linked to tariffs imposed under former President Donald Trump’s trade policies.

According to The Wall Street Journal on March 12 (local time), Costco member Matthew Stokoff filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Illinois the previous day.

Stokoff argues that Costco raised product prices to reflect the burden of tariffs. If the government ultimately refunds those tariffs following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling invalidating the tariff policy, he contends that customers—who effectively paid the higher prices—should receive the refunds.

He asked the court to certify the case as a class action on behalf of Costco members.

Consumers cannot directly claim tariff refunds from the government because they are not the official importers responsible for customs declarations.

The issue arose after the U.S. Supreme Court last month invalidated certain tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Following that ruling, the U.S. Court of International Trade ordered the refund of about $160 billion in tariff revenue, though the exact method and timing of the refunds have not yet been determined.

알파경제 Kim Jisun Reporter(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)