Back in the late 18th century, the Founding Father Alexander Hamilton helped put in place a set of policies designed to encourage U.S. industry and to promote economic development and innovation. That arrangement, which laid the groundwork for what became known as the “American System,” emerged in part as a counterbalance to British conceptions of … Read More

De minimis, a customs rule that allows for duty free shipment and minimal inspection if the overseas vendor claims the value is under $800, is a haven for contraband, whether it’s fake Nikes, childrens’ toys made of lead, or banned food products, Customs and Border Protect (CBP) admitted yet again. “We’ve encountered shipments that have … Read More

In a 1931 essay, Keynes argued for “import duties of 15 percent on all manufactured and semi-manufactured goods without exception, and of 5 percent on all foodstuffs and certain raw materials, whilst other raw materials would be exempt.” Keynes also saw no major impact of such a tariff policy on prices or inflation. Regarding his … Read More

When George Washington was President, consensus existed that tariffs should be used for both (1) federal revenue purposes, and also (2) to protect domestic production. This consensus was embodied in the first sentence of the first U.S. Tariff Act, passed on July 4, 1789. While the rough consensus existed, the precise extent to which tariffs … Read More

Section 301 tariffs will increase for specific imports, to between 25% to 100% beginning Sept. 27, 2024, with other rates scheduled to increase in 2025 and 2026 for Chinese-origin semiconductors, medical products, lithium-ion non-electrical vehicle batteries, permanent magnets and natural graphite. Read the article.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, “Evidence from Europe and the United States shows that trade has increased inequality not just between workers of different skill levels, but also between those of different industries and those of different geographic regions. Growing import competition from China caused declines in both employment and wages for workers … Read More

The proposed tariffs, introduced in June, were rooted in claims that Chinese electric vehicles benefit from state subsidies, giving them an unfair edge over European manufacturers. China, however, has staunchly denied these accusations, asserting that the EU’s actions are nothing more than protectionism masquerading as fairness. Beijing insists that it has never subsidized its EV … Read More

Tariffs can play an important role in rebuilding our manufacturing base, if they are done right. We said in a study published in July that so-called “universal” tariffs of 10% on all U.S. imports would grow our economy, adding 2.86% to gross domestic product and 5.7% or $4,300 to real (inflation-adjusted) average household income. Those … Read More

UK Steel, a lobby group, said the global industry has 543m tonnes of excess steel, 70 times more than the UK uses each year, in analysis published on Monday. It said the UK faces a “cliff edge” in 2026 when current protections run out. The UK steel industry has called for the government to consider … Read More

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai defended stiff tariff hikes against countries such as China, saying that paired with investment, they were a “legitimate and constructive” tool for reinvigorating domestic industries. Tai’s comments come a week after sharp tariff increases on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), EV batteries and solar cells took effect — with levies down … Read More