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Tag: imports
July 17, 2025
Economy

Import Data Shows Foreign Producers, Not Americans, Are Bearing the Brunt of Tariffs.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. import prices have risen less than expected since tariffs were imposed, with data indicating foreign manufacturers absorbing much of the burden.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Bureau of Labor Statistics, foreign manufacturers, and the Trump administration.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Data released Wednesday reflects changes through June 2025, focusing on U.S. import and consumer markets.

🎯IMPACT: Tariffs have not resulted in significant price increases for American consumers, contrary to earlier predictions.

IN FULL

U.S. import prices have not spiked since President Donald J. Trump‘s imposition of tariffs, despite critics’ claims that the new trade duties would result in significant cost increases for domestic U.S. companies. Data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests that foreign manufacturers are absorbing a significant share of the tariff burden.

The BLS data shows that import prices increased just 0.1 percent in June, which is in line with the overall consumer price increase reported by the Department of Labor. Notably, the producer price index, which focuses on domestic prices and excludes imports, remained flat for the month. Year-over-year, import prices declined 0.2 percent, marking two consecutive months of year-over-year decreases.

While many critics argued that American consumers would bear the burden, the data shows declining import prices, suggesting that foreign producers are absorbing the costs. For example, import prices from China have dropped at an annualized rate of 3.2 percent over the past three months, indicating that Chinese exporters are cutting prices to remain competitive.

Across categories, capital goods prices rose at an annualized rate of 1.6 percent, while consumer goods excluding autos also increased at the same rate. Industrial materials and auto prices saw slight declines. Overall, import prices are up at a three-month annualized rate of 1.9 percent, consistent with the Federal Reserve‘s two percent inflation target. This is slower than the rise in domestic consumer prices, which are up at a 2.4 percent annualized rate, and producer prices, which are up at 2.8 percent.

Import prices are measured before tariffs are applied, reflecting the price paid to foreign sellers at the point of export. The slower pace of import price increases relative to domestic inflation indicates that foreign producers are absorbing tariff costs rather than passing them on to U.S. consumers. This trend is evident across major categories of imported goods, where prices have either declined or risen below the Federal Reserve’s inflation target.

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February 13, 2025
William Upton
Economy
World

BREAKING: President Trump Will Impose Reciprocal Tariffs on Countries Taxing U.S. Exports.

President Donald J. Trump is issuing an order to impose reciprocal tariffs on foreign nations that have already instituted their own tariffs on American exports. The proposed tariffs aim to end unfair trade practices that tilt international markets against American companies and products, an issue that President Trump has repeatedly emphasized for decades and argues has undermined both the national interest and the United States economy.

“On trade, I have decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff—meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them. No more, no less,” Trump said during a Thursday press conference at the White House. He continued: “In other words, they charge us a tax or tariff and we charge them the exact same tax or tariff. In almost all cases, they’re charging us vastly more than we change them. But those days are over.”


Notably, Trump says he intends to impose tariffs on countries that have enacted a Value Added Tax (VAT). The European Union’s member states, which use a stringent VAT system, would be the most prominently impacted countries.

Once enacted, the tariffs will target a wide range of goods—though automobiles, manufacturing, and raw industrial materials are among the most prominent products targeted. Already, President Trump has instituted a new 10 percent tariff on goods from China and initiated—but paused—tariffs of 25 percent on goods imported from Mexico and Canada; the latter tariffs are intended to push Canada and Mexico to crack down on drug trafficking across their borders with the U.S.

Critics of President Trump’s tariff plans claim their imposition will increase prices for American consumers. However, The National Pulse has previously detailed that this claim is—for the most part—untrue. Tariffs are paid by the importing company on the cost of the product or good at the point of production. This means a 25 percent tariff—for instance—is on the price at the point of production and not on the sale price consumers see.

Additionally, reciprocal tariffs are intended to level the playing field in international trade by matching import taxes foreign nations have already imposed on U.S. exports.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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President Donald J. Trump is issuing an order to impose reciprocal tariffs on foreign nations that have already instituted their own tariffs on American exports. The proposed tariffs aim to end unfair trade practices that tilt international markets against American companies and products, an issue that President Trump has repeatedly emphasized for decades and argues has undermined both the national interest and the United States economy. show more