Since announcing his run for President, Donald Trump has continuously forwarded the idea of implementing tariffs on foreign goods. There are plenty of downsides that make tariffs negatively impact the economy overall. 

A tariff is a tax on goods that are produced by foreign companies, making them more expensive. The idea behind them is that Americans will buy more goods produced by American companies, protecting US jobs, and encouraging investment.

WJPS 12th grader Ishal Ahmad said, “I don’t agree with tariffs, they are bad for our economy and relationship with other countries.”

Since there’s less competition by foreign companies, American companies can get away with raising prices for goods. Normally, if a good is more expensive, people will buy a similar product for less, and US companies will not be incentivized to keep their prices lower.

Businesses also have to import from other countries to make their goods. When Apple makes a phone, it imports materials from countries like China, Brazil, and India. With tariffs, Apple will either have to raise prices or make less phones.

The tariffs will also hurt our relationship with other countries, and they might retaliate with tariffs of their own.

WJPS 12th grader Aisha Ismail said, “I think tariffs will help companies from the U.S with their business.”

“Container Ship” by NOAA’s National Ocean Service is licensed under CC BY 2.0.