US, not others, paying for Trump tariffs: Report

A study published in January 2026 by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy concludes that the sweeping United States import tariffs imposed in 2025 produced a self-inflicted economic cost.

- VISMAY BASU @ New Delhi

Rather than forcing foreign exporters to shoulder the burden, the tariffs operated as a levy on American buyers, functioning in effect as a selective consumption tax.

The policy brief, “America’s Own Goal: Who Pays the Tariffs?”, authored by Julian Hinz, Aaron Lohmann, Hendrik Mahlkow and Anna Vorwig, draws on shipment-level evidence covering nearly $4 trillion in trade and more than 25 million consignments. Its central finding is stark: for every $100 in tariff revenue, around $96 is paid by American buyers, while only $4 comes from reduced foreign exporter margins.