Marketplace All-in-One Costco wants its tariff money back
Dec 2, 2025
Join economist Matt Weinzierl from Harvard Business School and Marketplace reporter Henry App as they dive into Costco's bold lawsuit for tariff refunds if Trump's tariffs are deemed illegal. Henry shares insights on the implications for big companies, while Matt explores the emerging lunar economy. Discover the exciting possibilities of mining lunar soil and why parts of the moon could hold economic value. With commercial interests in space on the rise, this discussion is out of this world!
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Tariff Ruling Could Create Massive Refund Puzzle
- If the Supreme Court finds large Trump tariffs illegal, companies may be entitled to refunds but the process is unclear.
- Costco sued to secure repayment plus interest, highlighting legal and practical uncertainty about recovering over $100 billion in tariffs paid this year.
Tariffs Feed The Treasury, Raising Stakes
- Tariffs function as taxes routed into the U.S. Treasury and have funded other spending.
- Bloomberg reports U.S. firms have paid over $100 billion in tariffs this year, underscoring the stakes of any court ruling.
Big Companies Join The Refund Fight
- Costco, Revlon, and Kawasaki Motors joined lawsuits to ensure they can get refunds if tariffs are overturned.
- Costco says it has been "paying the duties on a continuous basis" and now seeks repayment plus interest.
