Simple and Truthful Information About Tariffs: You Will Be Pissed Off

If the word “tariffs” enters the conversation, most people have no idea what that involves, and no idea about how it might affect them and their families. I am going to make it simple and clear for everyone. I will warn you, this is the ultimate scam by a professional politician.

Tomorrow, February 1, 2025, Trump will impose an additional tariff of 25 percent on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico.

Tariffs is just another word for “tax.” American companies which import raw materials or finished goods from these three countries will be forced to pay a 25 percent increase for their purchases: the same percentage attached to the items exported from China, Canada, and Mexico. This is known as a tariff.

Here's where Trump is playing tricks on the American people.

The extra 25 percent increase goes directly to the national treasury. Because American businesses are forced to pay more for the imports they purchase, the cost is passed onto consumers. This is where Trump is once again protecting the profits of major corporations, and raising taxes on the poor and working class.

Trump’s tariffs will be attached to petroleum products and other items necessary to sustain life, including food.

Fact: the super-rich don’t care about an increase in food, clothing, or gasoline. The luxuries which they purchase will not experience an increase noticeable to their accountants.

However, Americans who will feel the most pain are the 50 percent who live in poverty or the low-income bracket. This includes seniors like me and my wife who are forced to survive on a fixed income.

To offer even more clarity, I will use myself and my wife as an example.

There never was a true “inflation.” The truth is that it was “Greedflation.” Corporations increased prices for the sole purpose of increasing their profits. When Greedflation began, we immediately noticed an increase in our bills from the grocery stores. Prices rose by an average of 60 percent. Our Social Security COLA was 2.5 percent in 2025. To add to our pain and return profits to the pharmaceutical companies, Trump repealed President Biden’s cost reductions for life-saving medication for older Americans.

Trump’s big promise in 2024 was to lower inflation, especially at the grocery store. His tariffs, denounced by every leading economist, will cost us an additional 25 percent or more every time we buy food.

Why would anyone trust a man who failed at every business venture in his life? Without bailouts from Russian oligarchs, (billionaires), and the Saudi Royal family, he would be selling those French Fries at McDonald’s, not using them for a photo op.

With tariffs, working Americans will be paying for Trump’s tax breaks for the super-rich: exactly what Kamala Harris told us.

Op-ed by James Turnage