Tariffs are a tax. Are you already paying it?

It's been over three months since President Trump reported very big across-the-board tariffs on imports from nearly every territory on Earth including uninhabited islands It's a move he noted would revitalize the U S financial market Since that splashy White House announcement the tariff rates have been a wildly moving target Ratcheted up - then back down - on China specifically Overlaid with global product-specific tariffs on categories like automobiles and copper Partially paused after the stock territory tanked Through it all the tariff rate has remained at or well-above percent on nearly every good imported to the U S And if you've listened to NPR's reporting since April you'll have heard a large number of voices make one particular prediction over and over again that American consumers will pay the price If American consumers are going to pay for the tariffs the question is when For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This sign up for Consider This via Apple Podcasts or at plus npr org Email us at considerthis npr org Image credit Andrew Harnik