SEATTLE — A proposed class action lawsuit filed in federal court in Seattle alleges that Costco Wholesale Corporation charged customers higher prices tied to federal tariffs, then sought refunds for those same costs after the tariffs were later ruled unlawful.
The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, names the Issaquah-based retail giant as the defendant and was brought by seven plaintiffs from Washington, Ohio, California and Pennsylvania.
According to the complaint, the dispute centers on tariffs imposed beginning in February 2025 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The plaintiffs allege that retailers, including Costco, raised prices on imported goods to offset the added costs of those tariffs…