'A major step for a major retailer.' Costco sues Trump admin. for full refund of tariffs

Tariffs and Trade - Costco is suing the Trump administration for a full refund of tariffs paid this year and to block future duties, highlighting the financial burden on American businesses and consumers [1][2] - The lawsuit is a political act, indicating a growing willingness of companies to challenge the administration's policies [9][10] - Tariffs have raised the cost of goods across the economy, representing an "anti-affordability agenda" [15] Consumer Spending and Affordability - Despite affordability concerns, Black Friday sales were strong, and the US economy is expected to grow next year [11][12] - While incomes have generally kept pace with rising costs, the perceived lack of significant financial improvement is causing frustration among consumers [13] Investment and Wealth Disparity - Michael Dell and his wife pledged over $6 billion to fund "Trump accounts" for 25 million US children, aiming to get people invested in American growth [16] - There's a significant gap between how the wealthy invest (hedge funds, private equity) and how average Americans invest (publicly listed companies, tracker funds) [18] - Only 50% of Americans have access to stock investments through 401k plans, and only 10% own stocks outright [18] Potential Tariff Refund Process - Costco's lawsuit highlights the process of tariff liquidation, where companies initially pay tariffs, and the CPB later confirms or adjusts the amount owed [8] - Costco is facing a time limit for some liquidations, potentially hindering its ability to recover the tariff money [9]