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 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act are illegal.

Costco's lawsuit asks the U.S. Court of International Trade 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 Supreme Court agrees that Trump did not have the authority to implement the tariffs without congressional authorization.

On Wednesday, the Court of International Trade granted a motion to consolidate Costco's lawsuit with similar suits filed by 19 other companies in the same court.