Costco sues to block emergency tariffs
Costco Wholesale Corporation filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking to invalidate President Trump’s emergency tariff orders, block U.S. Customs and Border Protection from collecting such duties going forward, and recover tariffs already paid. The filing cites an imminent Dec. 15 deadline to “liquidate” import entries, after which duties become final, and argues the emergency‑powers statute used does not authorize creating or raising tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, Canada and other countries.
📌 Key Facts
- Court: U.S. Court of International Trade; defendant: U.S. government (CBP and related agencies)
- Costco seeks injunction plus refunds of duties paid under the emergency tariff program
- Costco cites liquidation beginning on or after Dec. 15, which would lock in duty amounts and limit refund claims
📊 Relevant Data
The US goods trade deficit with China was $295.5 billion in 2024, which tariffs aim to reduce by making imports more expensive.
The People's Republic of China — United States Trade Representative
Trump's tariffs could lead to an almost 4% drop in purchasing power for lower-income families, costing them about $1,500 annually.
Why Trump's tariffs may hit low-income households hardest — NPR
Tariffs deepen economic burdens for low-income households, where median income is $44,900 for Black households and $61,600 for Hispanic households.
The full incidence of the 2018 tariffs fell on domestic consumers and importers, reducing aggregate US real income by $1.4 billion per month.
The Impact of the 2018 Tariffs on Prices and Welfare — American Economic Association
In 2023, the manufacturing workforce in the US was composed of 61.2% White, 17.6% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.5% Black or African American workers.
Manufacturing worker demographics and statistics in the US — Zippia