Costco shopper sues retailer for tariff refunds after Trump import taxes overruled

An Illinois-based Costco shopper is suing the big-box retailer for tariff refunds in a possible class-action case after President Trump’s core import taxes were overruled last month.Matthew Stockov, a Costco member, bought food, electronics, household items, small appliances and hygiene products from Costco that were imported from other countries and sold at “inflated” prices to offset the tariffs, according to his suit filed Wednesday in Illinois federal court.The lawsuit alleged Costco owes refunds, plus interest, to customers nationwide after the Supreme Court last month deemed Trump’s IEEPA tariffs – taxes placed on many foreign nations under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act – illegal.“While the importer of record is the only party that may recover a refund from the government for an improperly assessed tariff, the importer is often nothing more than a pass-through vehicle,” the complaint said.“The consumer, for all intents and purposes, pays the tariff.And yet, even when the Supreme Court strikes down an unlawful tariff, the truly injured parties possess no direct avenue for redress.”Costco did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.The wholesale retailer – which is among the hundreds of companies that last year sued the federal government for tariff refunds – has not promised any payback to customers.During an earnings call last week, Costco CEO Ron Vachris said the company will instead “return this value to our members through lower prices and better values” if the company is awarded a tariff refund.The lawsuit claimed this commitment was insufficient, arguing that a promise for possible value to an indeterminate group of future shoppers is not the same as a refund to past shoppers who were charged tariff-adjusted prices.While the Supreme Court last month ruled that Trump’s IEEPA tariffs exceeded his presidential authority, it did not specify or mandate a path for refunds to importers, busines...