Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
cross_type 4.39 — strongly supporting 20 facts
The U.S. is directly linked to tariff rates through historical measurements of its effective tariff levels {fact:8, fact:10, fact:11, fact:20} and policy discussions regarding the economic impact and administration of these rates {fact:1, fact:2, fact:3, fact:4}.
Facts (20)
Sources
History of tariffs in the United States - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 9 facts
measurementIn 1944, the United States federal government collected $417.0 million in tariff income, which accounted for 0.9% of federal receipts, with an average tariff rate of 10.6%.
measurementIn 1830, the United States federal government collected $21.9 million in tariff income, which accounted for 88.2% of federal receipts, with an average tariff rate of 35.0%.
measurementIn 1918, the United States federal government collected $947.0 million in tariff income, which accounted for 25.8% of federal receipts, with an average tariff rate of 31.2%.
measurementIn 1792, the United States federal government collected $4.4 million in tariff income, which accounted for 95.0% of federal receipts, with an average tariff rate of 15.1%.
measurementIn 1870, the United States federal government collected $194.5 million in tariff income, which accounted for 47.3% of federal receipts, with an average tariff rate of 44.6%.
measurementBetween January and April 2025, the average effective U.S. tariff rate increased from 2.5% to an estimated 27%, marking the highest level in over a century.
measurementDuring the restriction period of United States tariffs (1861–1933), average tariff rates rose to 50 percent and remained at that level for several decades.
measurementDuring the reciprocity period of United States tariffs (1934 onwards), the average tariff rate declined substantially until it leveled off at 5 percent.
measurementDuring the revenue period of United States tariffs (1790–1860), average tariff rates increased from 20 percent to 60 percent before declining back to 20 percent.
Tariffs are a particularly bad way to raise revenue | Brookings brookings.edu 4 facts
measurementThe OECD average tariff rate is approximately 0.26 percent, while the average tariff rate for G7 countries excluding the United States is 0.18 percent.
claimThe Trump administration justified high tariff rates using objectives such as reducing trade deficits, retaliation against other countries, national security, and bringing production back to the United States.
claimFor the United States to raise revenue through tariffs on a scale comparable to smaller nations, the United States would require very high, economically distortive tariff rates.
measurementAs of August, the effective tariff rate in the United States is closer to 10.5 percent due to exemptions and zero-tariff trade agreements such as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
U.S. tariff outcomes dependent on trading partner responses dallasfed.org 2 facts
measurementResearch by SMU associate professor Michael Sposi and colleagues indicates that U.S. consumption-equivalent customs duties peak with a tariff rate of just over 70 percent, assuming unilateral and uniform tariffs across all sectors and trading partners.
claimThere exists a threshold of U.S. tariff rates beyond which universal retaliation becomes more damaging to the U.S. than no retaliation at all.
Tracking the Economic Effects of Tariffs | The Budget Lab at Yale budgetlab.yale.edu 2 facts
measurementThe average effective US tariff rate was 2.7% between 2022 and 2024, which raised $7.6 billion per month in net customs duty revenues.
measurementThe effective tariff rate in the United States reached 9.9% in December 2025.
Tracking Trump's Trade Deals | Council on Foreign Relations cfr.org 2 facts
Transatlantic Trade, the Trump Disruption and the World ... - ECPS populismstudies.org 1 fact
claimDonald Trump considered the long-standing US effective tariff rate of approximately 2.1% to be unfairly low.