Tariffs and Resiliency

In 2025, there were at least 12 major changes to U.S. tariffs.[i] As I write this at the beginning of February 2026, another round of changes has occurred in January. Some of the tariffs are sweeping, covering nearly all nations. Some are very specific. At present, I am not comfortable stating “The US has placed a 26% tax on imports from Izbjerstan” because the tariff may no longer apply by tomorrow.

A tariff is a tax that the importer, the person in the U.S. who wants a foreign product or service, pays to the U.S. government for importing that item. For example, there is a 100% tariff on Chinese automobiles, which I believe will be in place for quite some time. The tariff is designed to ‘protect’ US automobile manufacturers from competition. It is also in place due to the strained political relationship between the US and China, which could change.