No trade tax is free: Trump’s promised tariffs will hit large flows of electronics, machinery, autos, and chemicals

President-elect Trump’s proposed tariffs will significantly raise prices for many imported goods, especially electronics, machinery, and vehicles. These changes will put financial pressure on American consumers and businesses alike, per commentary from Peterson Institute for International Economics.  

The issue:  

The main challenge is that proposed U.S. import tariffs, particularly a 60% tax on Chinese goods, will lead to higher prices for consumers and could disrupt American supply chains. Sectors like machinery and electronics, which heavily rely on Chinese imports, are expected to bear the brunt, with 62% of U.S. imports from China already at an average rate of 16%.  

What they recommend:  

No recommendations provided in the commentary.  

Go deeper:  

Higher tariffs not only result in price increases on imported items but also lead to rising prices for similar domestic products, as American companies raise their prices in response to tariffs. Affected sectors include footwear and toys, where the U.S. relies heavily on Chinese imports, making alternatives hard to find. As seen during the trade war, retaliatory measures from trading partners could exacerbate this situation, leading to broader economic consequences.  

This is a brief overview of a blog from Peterson Institute for International Economics. For complete insights, we recommend reading the full blog.