By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Despite President Trump’s repeated claims that tariffs are paid entirely by other countries, Treasury Secretary Bessent acknowledged that some tariff costs may be passed onto consumers, as evidenced by Walmart’s planned price increases. This contradicts Trump’s assertion that companies like Walmart should “eat the tariffs,” a stance also refuted by the fact that other businesses, including Adidas and Stanley Black & Decker, anticipate similar price hikes due to tariffs. Economists largely concur that tariffs function as import taxes borne by businesses and consumers, fueling concerns about a potential recession. The administration attempted to downplay these concerns, claiming that CEOs are legally obligated to provide worst-case scenarios to investors.
Read the original article here
Trump-world admits it: America pays for tariffs. This isn’t some deep state conspiracy theory, it’s basic economics. Tariffs are taxes, and taxes ultimately affect consumers. The government may collect the tariff revenue, but that’s simply a transfer of funds; the increased cost of imported goods is borne by the American people, no matter how much anyone might try to obfuscate the reality.
The impact isn’t evenly distributed, either. Low-income families and those on fixed incomes are particularly vulnerable, as the higher prices for everyday goods, including necessities, eat into their already limited budgets. These groups are more likely to feel a substantial impact when faced with rising prices for essential items.
The term “Patriot Tax,” which some Trump supporters use to describe these tariffs, rings incredibly hollow. While framing the tariffs as a patriotic sacrifice might appeal to certain voters, it glosses over the fact that this “sacrifice” disproportionately affects those least able to afford it. It’s easy to accept a price increase when the money you spend is a small part of a large disposable income, but far more difficult when those additional costs are a real strain on already tight budgets.
This situation highlights a troubling trend: the acceptance of economic hardship for perceived long-term benefits. Some seem to buy into the idea that enduring short-term pain will lead to long-term gains, mirroring similar narratives used in the past to justify politically motivated decisions. Such narratives risk enabling policies that unfairly burden many while enriching a few.
It’s telling that even some who openly support Trump acknowledge that American consumers shoulder the costs of these tariffs. There are claims of Chinese producers somehow absorbing these costs, but that’s demonstrably false in most cases. Even when some companies try to absorb these costs, they are in effect still passing the cost along in other ways, potentially affecting other areas of the business or prices.
The egg situation is a microcosm of this larger problem. While there are many factors impacting egg prices, the cost of imported goods certainly plays a role, and that is increased by tariffs. Price fluctuations, and arguments about whether it’s Biden’s fault or Trump’s, can be seen across many items, but the core issue remains. Tariffs make imported goods more expensive.
Discussions about tariffs often devolve into political mudslinging, which often distracts from the straightforward economic reality of the issue. But even the most ardent supporters are beginning to acknowledge the fact that higher prices are resulting. The core issue is not about who is in office, but rather how these trade policies fundamentally impact ordinary consumers across the board.
The claim that corporations like Walmart could absorb the cost of tariffs is also misleading. While large corporations have more room to maneuver financially, absorbing tariffs often leads to reduced profits or adjustments elsewhere – potentially translating to less investment, reduced job growth, or other undesirable consequences. Essentially, it’s a hidden tax shifting from one sector to another, but not entirely erasing the burden on the economy.
The narrative surrounding tariffs has a strong element of willful ignorance. Those who benefit from maintaining this narrative seem perfectly content to accept that ordinary Americans will face higher prices for the goods that they need and use, despite claims to the contrary. This suggests a level of disregard for the economic well-being of average Americans.
The price changes on everyday goods, like eggs, demonstrate this effect rather clearly. While some prices have decreased in some markets, they remain higher than before the tariffs were instituted. The fluctuations don’t detract from the basic fact that these tariffs do have a financial impact on the average American, no matter what political claims are made. The bottom line is that Trump-world’s tacit admission that Americans ultimately pay for tariffs undermines the entire justification for those policies.