Before jumping to conclusions, you should read the specific fare conditions for each ticket. Bear in mind that if the entire itinerary, including the domestic segments in the US, are on one ticket, that the most restrictive conditions of any one segment will apply to the entire ticket. Further, it is possible that a return ticket is less than the single which you would fly.

You don't say which, but here are the four basic types of provisions which might exist.

1. Fully refundable
2. Refundable with a penalty
3. Credit for future travel with a penalty
4. No value at all

Don't jump to conclusions. Although it's painstakingly boring, read the conditions word-for-word.