Words are our means of communication. Words are our translation, our transaction, and our tactile transcendence. Words are only that, and yet while they hold all significance, they are just as easily convoluted and colored by our own perception.
One word for one person means entirely something else to another, without ever changing its definition. This disparity is evident especially in our news.
“Vaccine”, “Bans”, “Protests”, “Trump”, “LGBTQIA”. Every one of these words likely triggered some correlation or emotion within you, if you live near a cell phone. Our news coverage can often muddle rather than clarify words, terms, names.
And why should it?
Instead, let us visit terms with objectivity, clarity, and context. This piece will cover the term “tariff.” What it means, why it is relevant, and the different perspectives our culture has taken.
What is a tariff?
A tariff is a tax that is imposed on a good or service from another country. Often, this tax is derived from the value of the good or service in question.
For example, if a soda from Japan costs $3, and a 10% tariff tax is imposed on the product in America, the soda would cost you $3.30.
What this means is that the consumer of a product pays more for goods purchased outside of the country they live in, than a similar product within the same country.
Why is our presidency imposing them?
As mentioned previously, the impact of tariffs is that consumers from one country pay more for products that are produced from another country. The idea, then, is to encourage consumers to buy products that would be cheaper within the country they live, in order to direct revenue back into the country’s economy.
This idea is hardly new, though the ultimate goal may have differed. The Townshend Act of 1767 was an attempt from British Parliament to gain leverage on dependent American colonies by putting taxes on goods such as paper, lead, tea, glass, and paint that were shipped from the UK.
This Act was met with defiance by the colonists, and ended up being the catalyst to such famous events as the Boston Tea Party, and phrases that birthed revolution, as “No Taxation Without Representation.”
These taxes are not the same as tariffs of today, however, as tariffs that we discuss in the US are taxes the United States has imposed on other countries’ imports. President Trump originally asserted that the tariffs imposed would make Americans purchase American-manufactured products.
Opposing positions assert that the cost of manufacturing in the United States would be disproportionately expensive to the uptick in American sales consumers would make.
President Trump has also stated that tariffs would be a way to combat the way in which foreign countries he believed have “pillaged” America. From this standpoint, Trump feels that tariffs are retribution from other countries, and a way to increase the American economy.
However, there has been much debate between economists as to whether the pressure on American consumers will provide enough momentum to increase the upward trajectory of American businesses. This concern especially arose as the stock market largely plummeted soon after the implementation of the early proportion of tariffs.
The Trump administration, however, counters that this plummet is not worrisome and rather essential, taking on an almost vaccine-like analoge. For the economy to rise, they have considered, it must first take what would be an inevitable crash.
According to the administration, the economy would take an upturn as large as $600 billion a year, as of early January.
What is the current status of tariffs? (Updated April 29, 2025)
As of April 27, Trump has made the assertion that a continual push on tariffs, (though now substantially pulled back from initial taxation), would pull enough revenue into the economy to reduce or potentially eliminate income taxes.
The likelihood of this occurrence is highly debated, however, among many economists.
As of now, however, here are the tariffs on each country the United States has implemented, in contrast to the initial taxation.
Why is there a disparity in information?
Many citizens within the United States, especially young adults, have felt disillusioned by the lack of clarity on the state and reasoning of terms such as tariffs.
Louis Stoyanov (11), shares in this sentiment. “I feel like I follow the news decently closely, but I still don’t know a lot about tariffs,” Stoyanov said.
Keron Bowman (11) said, sheds her perspective on why Americans are often left in the dark on economic policy.
“Here’s the truth: the U.S. government does make information available; reports, economic data, policy briefs, Congressional hearings; but ‘available’ is not the same as ‘accessible’,” Bowman said.
Despite the lack of efficacy, we can feel when we are obscured in political fogginess, our passion matters. When we take it upon ourselves to research with an unbiased gaze, and find sources of trust, especially within a solid foundation of our own political knowledge, we can make a difference.
No matter what perspective you end up supporting, or if you align yourself with no particular side, your opinion, voice, and influence are made stronger and more valid for it.
Education is the key to change, and the momentum of advocacy.
Additional Resources
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn93e12rypgo
We want to hear from you!
Let the LHS staff know if there are any other topics or terms that we can summarize succinctly! Comment and let us know what you think or would like to know, so we can do the research for you to do yours!
