Costco Member in U.S. Demands Refund for Tariff-Driven Price Increases, Including Interest

U.S. Supreme Court Invalidates Trump Administration's Reciprocal Tariffs

Costco Member Requests Refund for Tariff-Driven Price Increases

FedEx and Other Companies Previously Filed Lawsuits Seeking Tariff Refunds from Government

A customer of the major U.S. retailer Costco has filed a lawsuit demanding a refund for price increases caused by tariffs, drawing attention to how Costco will respond.

Photo of a consumer exiting the Costco store in New York, USA to assist in understanding the article. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 12th (local time), "Costco member Matthew Stokoe filed a lawsuit against Costco in federal court in Illinois the previous day." He argued that while Costco raised product prices to reflect the burden of tariffs, it did not promise refunds to consumers, and filed the lawsuit seeking to have any refunded tariffs from the government returned to consumers. In particular, it has been reported that he requested the court to designate the case as a class action representing all Costco members nationwide.

Consumers cannot receive tariff refunds directly from the government because they are not the party responsible for import declarations. He said, "The actual victims have no way to be directly compensated," and demanded a refund of the amount of price increases due to tariffs, as well as interest.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were invalid. However, the court did not address whether the tariff revenues already collected should be returned. Subsequently, the U.S. Court of International Trade determined that approximately 160 billion dollars (about 238.56 trillion won) in tariff revenues should be refunded, but the method and timing remain uncertain.

In December of last year, prior to the Supreme Court ruling, Costco had filed a lawsuit with the Court of International Trade demanding a refund of tariffs, stating, "Even if the Supreme Court cancels the tariffs, we will not be able to receive a refund of the tariffs already paid." If Costco faces a consumer class action, future demands for tariff refunds from the government could gain momentum.

Previously, logistics company FedEx also filed a lawsuit last month with the U.S. Court of International Trade, demanding a full refund of tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration. This was the first major company to demand a refund following the ruling that the Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs were unlawful. Since then, French cosmetics company L'Oreal, British home appliance manufacturer Dyson, and contact lens maker Bausch + Lomb have also filed lawsuits seeking tariff refunds.

Regarding this, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pointed out, "(If FedEx) actually passed those costs on to consumers, they need to explain how they will return the money to consumers." FedEx responded, "If a refund is made, we will refund the costs to the shippers and consumers who initially bore them," adding, "The timing and specific procedures for refunds may vary depending on future guidance from the government and courts."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.