Prices and jobs
Tariffs can shield domestic factories from import competition while raising costs for consumers and downstream manufacturers.
In plain English
A tariff makes foreign goods more expensive at the border — importers pay it, and much of the cost typically flows to consumers.
Example
U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and a broad range of Chinese goods have been central to trade policy fights since 2018.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Trade conflict
Targeted countries usually retaliate with their own tariffs, hitting exporters like farmers and manufacturers.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Collected at the border
Importers pay the tariff to customs when goods enter the country, as a percentage of value or a per-unit fee.
Pass-through
Companies absorb some cost and pass the rest to buyers; studies of recent rounds found most of the burden landed domestically.
Related guide
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Judicial review is the power American courts use to decide whether a law or government action violates the Constitution.
Read the guide → Related issue brief
Should the Senate eliminate the filibuster?
The filibuster lets 41 senators block most legislation by refusing to end debate. Supporters say it protects minority rights. Critics say it makes Congress incapable of acting.
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Should the United States use tariffs as a primary tool of trade policy?
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