Trump’s ‘forever’ tariffs are kicking in for the long haul – and US consumers are footing the bill
The effects of the Trump administration’s 2025 tariffs are still being passed on to consumers, while new levies will add to the overall tariff rate.
President Donald Trump's latest announcement of tariffs aims to withstand legal challenges, including from the Supreme Court, according to AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes. While market reactions have lessened, the financial impact on American consumers is becoming more evident as economic sentiment deteriorates ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
Many businesses had anticipated the tariff wars to conclude after the Supreme Court overturned Trump's emergency tariffs in February, but new import taxes were introduced five months later. These tariffs cover nearly all U.S. imports and are based on existing U.S. trade law, making them resistant to Supreme Court review. Trump plans to introduce more such "trade law tariffs" in the future.
As a trade economist, it is believed that the longer these import taxes persist, the more consumers will shoulder their burden. Although the 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs deemed temporary by the Supreme Court, the majority of the new levies are designed to be permanent. This means that consumers will face a higher cost burden even if tariff rates remain unchanged, as the new tariffs will compound with existing ones.
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