Costco Nominates Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to Board as Tariff Battle Intensifies

By Blessing Nweke

Costco Wholesale said Thursday it has nominated former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to join its board of directors, adding a high-profile figure with deep experience in trade and economic policy as the company challenges the Trump administration’s tariff regime.

Raimondo led the Commerce Department throughout President Joe Biden’s term and previously served as Rhode Island’s Democratic governor from 2015 to 2021. Her nomination will go before shareholders at Costco’s Jan. 15 meeting, where new board candidates typically win approval by wide margins.

The announcement comes as Costco is suing the federal government to recover tariffs it says it has improperly paid under President Donald Trump’s country-specific tariff program. The retail giant is also asking the U.S. Court of International Trade to block the administration from collecting additional duties. Trump imposed the tariffs by invoking emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA — a move now under review by the Supreme Court.

Costco’s case has been consolidated with lawsuits from several other companies, including auto suppliers and steel manufacturers, all challenging the legality of the tariffs.

Hamilton James, chairman of Costco’s board, said the company is “very pleased” to nominate Raimondo, citing her “vast experience in global business, politics and international security at the highest level.”

In a separate securities filing, Costco said her candidacy emerged during a broader board “refreshment” effort and that she was recommended by James and known to several current directors.

Raimondo has been an outspoken critic of Trump’s sweeping tariff policies. Speaking at a Bloomberg conference in November, she warned that tariffs “are hard to take off” and argued that rates of “40%-50%” — especially when frequently changing — pose significant challenges for U.S. companies.

She has also acknowledged internal debates during the Biden administration over whether to roll back tariffs, saying political concerns often made reductions difficult.

Raimondo said in April she is considering a 2028 presidential run. The White House did not immediately comment on her nomination.