Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Tariffs are taxes that a country puts on goods coming from other countries. When a government adds a tariff, it makes the imported goods more expensive. This affects how much people have to pay for those goods.

For example, imagine the U.S. puts a tariff on shoes made in China. If the shoes normally cost $50, a 20% tariff means an extra $10 is added. Now, the shoes will cost $60. The company that brings the shoes into the U.S. may not want to pay that extra cost. So, they raise the price, and the customer ends up paying more.

Another example is with food. Suppose the U.S. puts a tariff on cheese from France. If a block of cheese usually costs $5, a 25% tariff adds $1.25. The new price is $6.25. This makes imported cheese more expensive, so people might buy less of it. But they may also see higher prices on local cheese if demand increases.

Sometimes, companies in the U.S. also use parts from other countries to make things. If there is a tariff on those parts, like car parts from Mexico, it makes it more expensive to build a car. Then, the price of the car goes up.

So, tariffs can cause prices to rise for many things: clothes, food, cars, electronics, and more. Even if something is made in the U.S., it might still cost more because some parts come from abroad.

In short, tariffs are meant to protect local businesses, but they often make everyday items more expensive for consumers. People have to pay more, and that can be hard, especially for families with tight budgets.