Tariffs have been in the news a lot recently. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation regarding them and their effects. As with any political issue, it is best to handle it with minimal bias. I will be explaining tariffs and how they impact not only our country but also us in our daily lives. 

Tariffs are a tax on imported goods. This means that when a business or manufacturer purchases a good from a foreign nation, the manufacturer is forced to pay a tax. Tariffs have been in the news recently due to Donald Trump’s use of them that differs from previous presidents. 

President Trump applied 25% tariffs on steel and 10% tariffs onto aluminum in 2018; though many allies were exempt. Supporters argued that domestic production rose and employment regarding steel did too. However, critics argued that the price of products are raised as a result and allegedly reduced steel competition globally according to manufacturers. 

In recent months, President Trump has used tariffs as a means of diplomacy. For example, Trump’s deportations have caused immigrants to be rejected by their home countries such as Colombia. As a result, in February Trump struck Colombia with heavy tariffs. He later overturned these tariffs when Colombia took in the deportees, a mutual agreement. 

Critics argued that this type of diplomacy can strain international relations, such as when Canada made a highly controversial statement that formally cut the ties of Canada and the US. This can also potentially shift countries to make their primary importer China instead of the US, which is less direct in its use of tariffs. Alternatively, supporters argue that it places America first (a common campaign promise of Pres. Trump) and makes foreign nations take America more seriously. 

It is important to acknowledge that tariffs are still a multifaceted issue that cannot be simplified to good or bad. Tariffs are a tool, but weaponization of them or highly controversial usage can lead to an increase of criticisms. Still, there are always going to be benefits to tariffs, ones we should not lose sight of.

Additionally, Political Club has frequently discussed tariffs, economics, and more issues. If you have any more interest in these political topics, Political Club is an accepting and informative community here at Apex High School.