Trump tariffs affecting Americans

Supreme Court set to decide legality of duties

By: Michael Collins
USA today

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump has been in office less than three months when he slapped retaliatory tariffs on imports form dozens of counties, arguing the duties would benefit American companies hat have been treated unfairly by foreign nations.
..... But Trump's tariffs drove up prices fro American consumers, sowed confusion and anger abroad (even among some U.S. allies), and landed before a skeptical U.S. Supreme Court, which is weighing whether he acted legally.
..... Trump announced the tariffs during a Rose Garden ceremony April 2, 2025, which he dubbed "Liberation Day."
..... Holding up a large chart, Trump said he would place 10% tariffs on imports from all countries and additional duties on 60 countries hat eh said are the largest contributors to the U.S. trade deficit and hat impose the most significant barriers antagonist U.S. products.
..... "For decades, our country has been looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike," he said. "But now it's our turn to prosper."

China, Canada retaliate

..... At least two countries - China and Canada - struck back.
..... China, which had waged a long trade ware with the United States during Trump's first term, responded to Trump's latest tariffs with countermeasures. Beijing slapped levies on all U.S.,. goods and curbed exports on some rare-earth elements.
..... by the end of the ear, [2025] thought, the tensions showed some signs of easing. China agreed in November [2025] to resume purchases of U.S. soybeans and halted tis expanded curbs on the export of rare earths minerals, while the United States lower some tariffs on Chinese goods.
..... Trump said he would visit Beijing next April [2026] and host Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit to the White House later in 2026.
..... Canada, one of the United States' top two trading partners, retaliated against Trump's tariffs by placing duties on billions in U. S.-made goods, including steel and aluminum products, computers, sports equipment and certain cast iron products.
..... The Canadian government removed the tariffs on many of the goods in September [2025] but left in place the duties on steel, aluminum and automobiles.
..... Canadian businesses did there part to fight back. Tried of Trump;s dismissive attitude toward there country, restaurant and bar owners and others in the food and beverage industry yanked cameraman products from their shelves while a "Buy Canadian" movement took hold across much of the country.
..... In Montreal and other cities, bar owners stopped using Kentucky bourbon in drinks like the old-fashioned and substituted Canadian rye instead.
..... Trump abruptly halted trade talks with Canada in October [2025] after Ontario's regional government aired a television ad that showed former President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. Canadian Prime Minster Mark Carey apologized , but trade talked between the two countries have yet to resume.

Trump drops Brazilian tariffs

..... Trump's tariffs cause a spike in prices for American consumers. The nonprofit Tax Foundation reported in October [2025] that the tariffs had driven up retail prices by 4.9%. Other reports showed that prices for some beef cuts jumped by 18.4% in September. [2025]
..... A separate analysis released in October [2025] by the global investment firm Goldman Sachs concluded that Americans, not foreign exporters or overseas governments, are bearing the majority of the cost of the tariffs. U.S. consumers will absorb 55% of tariff cost by the end of this year, [2026] the analysis said.
..... Though Trump insisted the tariffs were not impacting food prices, he removed duties on more than 200 food products in November, [2025] including Brazilian coffee, beef, orange juice and fruit.

$2,000 federal rebate checks?

..... Trump has suggested that money raised by the tariffs could be returned to Americans in the from of $2,000 rebate checks. He initially floated the idea in July [2025] and has continued to dangle the prospect of rebate checks for several months, suggesting the $2,000 payments would go to low- and middle-income Americans and could arrive in the middle 2026.
..... But analysis have warned that the tarries won't raise enough money to pay the rebates.
..... The Tax Foundation estimates the tariffs would generate $158.4 billion in revenue during 2025 and another $207.5 billion in 2026.
..... However, the rebate checks could cost as much as $606.8 billion - double the amount of revenue the tariffs are expected to bring in, the organizing said.

Supreme Court to decide fate

..... The fate of Trump's tariffs rests with the Supreme Court, which is weighing whether he acted legally when he imposed the duties.
..... During nearly three hours of debate on November 5, [2025] justices questioned whether Trump has the power to impose sweeping tariffs on most imports. The Constitution gives Congress sole authority to set taxes. But Solicitor General John Sauer argued that the duties imposed by Trump are "a regulatory tariff, not a tax."
..... At least three of the court's six conservatives justices - Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett - sounded skeptical of the Trump administration's arguments. A fourth, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who is sometimes a swing vote in politically divisive cases, appeared undecided.
.... A decision is expected soon.

..... Contributing: Maureen Grappoe, Bart Jansen, Frances Chambers and Joey Garrison, USA Today

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