Source: CounterPunch
by Dean Baker
“Since we seem to again be in a tariff-crazy phase of Donald Trump’s presidency, it is worth explaining the meaning of a tariff so that even Treasury Secretary Bessent, Commerce Secretary Lutnick, and New York Times headline writers can understand what they are. The basic point — contrary to what you read in the paper — is that tariffs are not something Trump ‘hits’ other countries with, they are something he hits US consumers with. They are a tax on our imports. The idea of a Trump ‘tariff’ on Amazon’s sales may help make that point.” (07/17/25)
https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/07/17/trump-hits-amazon-with-50-percent-tariffs/