
A tariff is as tax on consumers
The study said there should be no confusion as to what the result of these tariffs will be and to whom the 850 dollars lost to American households by U.S. tariffs against China would be paid.
A tariff is simply a tax. It is not paid by the producers -- they generally receive the same price for their product to which the tariff is added. The higher price after the tariff is paid by the consumer -- with the revenue from the tariff being paid to the government.
In other words, the threat of tariffs against China are a threat of an 850 dollars a year tax on every American household.
It added President Trump says he is in favour of low taxes but with tariffs against China he is in fact putting a tax on purchases which U.S. families will pay.
That is why every U.S. household faces that simple choice. Think what it could do with 850 dollars? It could buy a new smartphone, it could take a weekend away, it could buy new furniture or electrical goods. Or it could give 850 dollars to the tax collector. It doesn’t seem a very difficult choice?
U.S. wages and prices
The study said the situation is worse because U.S. prices are already rising. The latest available U.S. figure for the rise in "core inflation", for July, that is for consumer prices rises excluding food and fuel costs, was 2.4 percent -- the highest for 10 years.
More seriously still total consumer price inflation, which is what U.S. families actually pay, rose by 2.9 percent in the same month. But U.S. hourly wages in the same month only rose by 2.7 percent.
Therefore, due to price rises, U.S. real inflation adjusted wages were falling.
Indeed, this is the 3rd month in a row in which U.S. real wages have fallen due to inflation. In that situation the last thing that U.S. families need is tariffs creating still higher prices.
![]() | ![]() |
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses