US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo speaks on the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
Costco said Thursday that it is adding former Biden administration Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo to its board of directors.
The announcement came nearly a week after Costco filed a federal lawsuit seeking to recoup money that the retail warehouse club giant has paid so far this year to satisfy the legally disputed tariffs summarily imposed by President Donald Trump.
“We are very pleased to nominate Secretary Raimondo for election to our Board,” Costco Chairman Tony James said in a statement.
“Her vast experience in global business, politics and international security at the highest level will add an important dimension to our current expertise,” James said. “We look forward to her contributions.”
Raimondo previously was Rhode Island’s treasurer. Before that, she worked in venture capital.
The Supreme Court last month heard arguments by the Trump administration, which is seeking to reverse lower court rulings that the wide-ranging tariffs imposed by the president this year are illegal.
Costco’s lawsuit asks a federal court to order that the money it has paid for those tariffs to date should be returned now, without waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on their ultimate legality. The retailer said that without such an order, there is a risk it will not be able to get back that money even if the high court rules Trump did not have the power to impose the tariffs.
This is developing news. Check back for updates.
