concept

U.S. tariffs

Also known as: US tariffs

Facts (20)

Sources

A tectonic shift in tariff policy | UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) unctad.org UNCTAD Sep 17, 2025 5 facts

accountThe country-specific US tariffs were initially set to take effect on 9 April 2025, but were delayed by 90 days and came into force on 7 August 2025 after adjustments.

measurementFor 16 developing countries, including five least developed countries, US tariffs now surpass 25%.

measurementLatin America and the Caribbean experienced the greatest relative increase in US tariffs, as the trade-weighted average tariff for the region surged from below 0.5% to 14% during the "pause" and reached 18% in September 2025.

measurementAverage US tariffs on China decreased to 47% starting in mid-May 2025, initially for a 90-day period, which was subsequently extended on 12 August 2025 for another 90 days to facilitate continued trade negotiations.

claimUS tariffs on China experienced volatility in the first months of 2025 before stabilizing.

U.S. tariff outcomes dependent on trading partner responses dallasfed.org Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas May 13, 2025 4 facts

claimThe U.S. tariffs imposed during the 2018–19 trade war targeted steel, aluminum, chips (integrated circuits), and semiconductors, and did not reach a 25-percentage-point increase.

claimPrior to the 2018–19 trade war, the highest U.S. tariffs were predominantly in the textiles and agriculture sectors.

measurementBefore the 2018–19 trade war, U.S. tariffs were relatively stable and low, averaging about 2 percent on a trade-weighted basis.

claimDue to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), updated to the USMCA in 2020, Canada and Mexico were largely exempt from the higher U.S. tariffs that existed prior to the 2018–19 trade war.

World Trade Without the US | Cato Institute cato.org Cato Institute 2 facts

quoteRichard Baldwin explained the concept of 'trade deflection' as follows: "When US tariffs go up, exporters to the US don’t just reduce supply to match the reduction in sales to the US. They redirect their exports to other countries. Tariffs, in a sense, deflect the exports to other markets."

claimTrade deflection occurs when exporters in other countries send their goods to markets other than the United States to escape higher US tariffs, which generates new political economy pressures to change tariff levels in both the exporting nations and the nations experiencing the import surge.

The price of protectionism: Understanding the economic tradeoffs of ... statestreet.com Ramu Thiagarajan, Jennifer Bender, Michael Metcalfe · State Street 2 facts

claimHigher US tariffs on other countries can strengthen the US dollar by reducing imports and improving the trade balance.

claimUS tariffs risk weakening the US dollar if the resulting economic slowdown erodes investor confidence.

Policy Paper: Decoding the United States on Tariffs and Trade freiheit.org Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Dec 16, 2025 2 facts

claimInvestment and finance are neglected aspects of the conversation surrounding US tariffs, partly due to a lack of credible evidence and confusion regarding capital flows.

claimUS tariffs primarily target intermediate and capital goods, and trade negotiators have failed to account for the impact on complex supply chains.

History of tariffs in the United States - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Wikipedia 1 fact

perspectiveMoore argues that the debates over 19th-century US tariffs were not precursors to the Civil War, but rather a continuation of the long-standing debate between free trade and protectionism.

Free Trade Protectionism: U.S. Tariffs Are Creating a New Trade ... itif.org ITIF Jul 7, 2025 1 fact

claimU.S. tariffs are causing targeted protectionism, resulting in other nations withdrawing from American markets and actively seeking alternative trade partners.

U.S. Trade and Tariffs: A Long-Term Perspective - UW-Stevens Point | blog.uwsp.edu University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Jan 8, 2025 1 fact

claimForeign countries typically impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. exports because U.S. tariffs generally harm foreign businesses.

[PDF] Is US Trade Policy Reshaping Global Supply Chains? openknowledge.worldbank.org World Bank 1 fact

claimUS tariffs reduced import growth from China and stimulated import growth from other countries, according to the World Bank report 'Is US Trade Policy Reshaping Global Supply Chains?'.

The Impact of Trump's Tariffs: A Comprehensive Analysis claconnect.com CLA Feb 23, 2026 1 fact

claimRecent increases in U.S. tariffs on imports have required companies to adjust transfer pricing policies to account for higher costs while maintaining compliance with customs and tax regulations in both impacted countries.