Introduction
The U.S. Executive Branch has implemented significant tariff increases in 2025, including a broad 10% baseline and higher tariffs on specific countries, leading to concerns about rising consumer prices and disruptions to global trade. A tariff is essentially a tax imposed by a government on goods imported from other countries. It works by adding the tax to the price of imported goods, making them more expensive for American consumers and businesses to import.
A4SC Resources
The below resources include relevant videos and lesson plans from our content library that will help contextualize this current event within broader, more enduring, concepts.
World Trade Organization – The World Trade Organization (WTO) aims to promote free trade by reducing barriers such as tariffs. The WTO’s goals include boosting free trade with as few barriers as possible.
Embargo – An embargo, a government ban on trade with a specific country, is a tool used to pressure that country to change its behavior, similar to how tariffs can be used to influence trade practices, although embargoes are a much more severe tactic.
Inflation and Deflation – Tariffs directly contribute to inflation by increasing the cost of imported goods, which can then lead to higher prices for consumers and businesses. Conversely, if tariffs were significantly reduced across the board, it could contribute to deflation.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) – The IMF works to “facilitate international trade” and often advocates for “trade liberalization,” which involves reducing barriers to trade like tariffs, as these are seen as impediments to smooth global commerce and economic growth for member nations.
Possible Discussion Questions
- Take a look at the tags of your clothing. How many different countries did your clothes come from? Does this help you understand the global nature of the products you use daily? Did you find anything surprising about where your clothes are made?
- Companies that import goods into the U.S. pay tariffs, but these costs often get passed to consumers. In your opinion, is it fair that consumers ultimately pay these added costs? Why or why not?
- What do you think are the potential dangers or benefits of using high tariffs as a solution to economic problems?
Activity Idea
Global Supply Chain Analysis: Have students choose an everyday product, such as a smartphone, and research its supply chain to identify the countries involved in its production. They can create a visual map showing where each part comes from and explain how tariffs on these countries might impact the product’s price, availability, or quality.
Additional Resources
- Fulfer, J. (23 May 2024). Free Trade vs. Protectionism: The Tariff Debate in the United States. The Economic Historian. https://economic-historian.com/2020/11/a-brief-history-of-free-trade-and-protectionism/
- Halloran, T. (17 March 2019). A Brief History of Tariffs in the United States and the Dangers of their Use Today. Fordham Journal of Corporate & Financial Law. https://news.law.fordham.edu/jcfl/2019/03/17/a-brief-history-of-tariffs-in-the-united-states-and-the-dangers-of-their-use-today/
- Tax Notes Staff. (31 July 2024). A History of Tariffs, From Hamilton to Trump. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/taxnotes/2024/07/31/a-history-of-tariffs-from-hamilton-to-trump/
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