Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? 7 Things You Definitely Should Know About Tariffs
Written by
Andrew Lisa
Edited by
Levi Leidy
Commitment to Our Readers
GOBankingRates' editorial team is committed to bringing you unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methodologies to evaluate financial products and services - our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our products and services review methodology.
20 Years
Helping You Live Richer
Reviewed
by Experts
Trusted by
Millions of Readers
Tariffs are the centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s trade policy and one of the biggest question marks facing the economy — but how much does the average American actually know about these politically polarizing tactics?
The popular game show “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?” challenges adult contestants to test their knowledge of elementary school subject matter. If you can answer the following basic questions about tariffs, then you might be smarter than a fifth grader.
What Are Tariffs?
Tariffs are taxes that governments apply to certain products imported from other countries.
Why Do Countries Impose Them?
Countries apply tariffs to protect domestic industries by making imports more expensive. They also use them as an economic weapon to retaliate against countries that use trade practices they perceive as unfair.
Is the United States Unique in Levying Tariffs?
According to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), tariffs have a long history in the global economy, and nearly every country still imposes at least some tariffs on some trade partners. However, advanced economies dramatically reduced their use of tariffs after World War II, believing that they impede trade, raise prices and encourage retaliation. President Trump’s policy represents a break with that tradition.
Who Authorizes Tariffs?
According to Congress.gov, the Constitution’s Commerce Clause grants Congress sweeping power to regulate international trade. However, the Supreme Court has evolved in its interpretation of the Commerce Clause over time.
Then How Can the President Order Them?
According to the CFR, the disastrous 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act imposed nearly 900 new tariffs, which many economists believe worsened the Great Depression. As a result, Congress has spent much of the last century shifting its power to levy import duties to the executive branch.
How Do They Impact Consumers?
According to UC Davis, tariffs impact consumers in two ways.
- First, they make products more expensive because producers raise prices to pass on the higher cost of imported goods. Additionally, domestic manufacturers that rely on imported raw materials often raise their prices to compensate as well.
- Second, tariffs can limit the availability of certain goods by making it unprofitable to import them.
How Do They Impact Businesses?
According to the Tax Foundation, tariffs can harm businesses by disrupting global supply chains and increasing the cost of imported raw materials. However, U.S. manufacturers that source their materials domestically or from non-tariff countries can benefit because their prices become more competitive as the cost of imports rises.
More From GOBankingRates
