In light of high inflation and rising prices, the Biden administration announced it’s considering dropping its current tariffs on Chinese imports to ease inflationary pressures. While the Trump tariffs were intended to protect American industries, they have largely hurt the U.S. economy by burdening U.S. industry and workers. And they invited retaliatory tariffs, primarily from China, on U.S. exports, which have damaged the economy even more.
Historical evidence and recent studies show that tariffs raise prices and reduce available quantities of goods and services for U.S. businesses and consumers, which results in lower income, reduced employment, and lower economic output. For example, the effects of higher steel prices, largely a result of the 2002 Bush steel tariffs, led to a loss of nearly 200,000 jobs in the steel-consuming sector, a loss larger than the total employment in the steel-producing sector at the time. It’s also worth noting that measures of trade flows, such as the trade balance, are accounting identities and should not be misunderstood to be indicators of economic health.
The Biden administration should provide relief to U.S. industries and workers by lifting the Trump tariffs, as they have failed in their objective to bring better trading practices and instead brought about economic damage. Further, the Biden administration should join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) or sign bilateral trade agreements with other Asian-Pacific countries to continue to diversify U.S. supply chains, expand access to foreign markets, and promote U.S. economic growth. Learn more about Biden tariffs and trade proposals and explore our analysis of Trump trade war policies below.
The Trump administration imposed nearly $80 billion worth of new taxes on Americans by levying tariffs on thousands of products, amounting to one of the largest tax increases in decades. The Biden administration has so far kept most of the Trump administration tariffs in place.
12 min read
Former President Donald Trump’s proposed 10 percent tariff would raise taxes on American consumers by more than $300 billion a year—a tax increase rivaling the ones proposed by President Biden.
3 min read
While the U.S. tariffs were intended to protect American industries, they have largely hurt the U.S. economy. Rather than pass on the tariffs to Chinese consumers, analysis shows that most U.S. firms simply bore the costs.
4 min read
The Section 232 tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum raised the cost of production for manufacturers, reducing employment in those industries, raising prices for consumers, and hurting exports.
13 min read
Policymakers actively marginalized the manufacturing sector by saddling them with cost recovery rules that prevent them from deducting the full cost of investment in physical plant and equipment. Going forward, policymakers should avoid haphazard fixes, targeted measures, and protectionism.
50 min read
As lawmakers today look for ways to boost American industry and reduce costs for consumers, they should pay attention to the mountains of evidence that the Trump-Biden tariffs have harmed American consumers and businesses.
5 min read
The Trump administration’s proposed tariffs would lead to job losses and a reduction in economic growth, as the Tax Foundation’s updated Tax and Growth model shows.
4 min read
The Trump administration’s plan to levy $60 billion in tariffs on Chinese products could negate 20 percent of the benefits of the recently adopted tax cuts.
3 min read
President Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports–except those from Mexico and Canada–will not work as the administration hopes. It will increase costs for businesses and raise prices for consumers.
3 min read
While the burden of Trump’s tariffs will ultimately be felt by most U.S. consumers, two-thirds of the new taxes will be initially borne by 10 states.
6 min read
President Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum will have negative consequences for downstream manufacturing companies, consumers, and other sectors in the economy.
4 min read
Tariffs on washing machines and solar cells, though designed to help U.S. manufacturing and protect consumers, will likely raise prices and distort markets.
3 min read