U.S. consumers to pay 55% of tariff costs, Goldman Sachs says

Spread the love

U.S. consumers will end up paying the bulk of the cost for President Donald Trump’s tariffs, according to a report from Goldman Sachs.

The report undercuts repeated claims from the White House that foreign nations will pay the costs of the new import duties.

Goldman Sachs economists said American consumers will pay 55% of tariff costs, U.S. businesses will pay 22% and foreign exporters will pay 18%.

Goldman Sachs economists said U.S. firms are expected to pass costs onto consumers in the coming months, according to media reports.

“At the moment, however, U.S. businesses are likely bearing a larger share of the costs because some tariffs have just gone into effect and it takes time to raise prices on consumers and negotiate lower import prices with foreign suppliers,” the Goldman Sachs note said.

The Trump administration has repeatedly said that foreign governments would pay the tariffs.

“The President and Administration’s position has always been clear: while Americans may face a transition period from tariffs upending a broken status quo that has put America Last, the cost of tariffs will ultimately be borne by foreign exporters,” White House Spokesman Kush Desai said. “Companies are already shifting and diversifying their supply chains in response to tariffs, including by onshoring production to the United States.”

The White also blamed high prices on former President Joe Biden.

“Americans can rest assured that the Administration will continue to deliver economic relief from Joe Biden’s inflation crisis while laying the groundwork for a long-term restoration of American Greatness,” Desai said

The White House has previously denied that tariffs would raise consumer prices or that American companies would bear the higher costs.

“The reality is the president has always maintained that Chinese producers will be absorbing the cost of these tariffs,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing in May. “The president is committed to ensuring that prices remain low for American consumers andhe maintains the position that foreign countries will absorb these tariffs.”

Trump has told businesses that he doesn’t want them to raise prices. He wants businesses to absorb the loss without passing on the higher prices to consumers.

Shortly after Walmart announced that it would raise prices throughout its stores in May, Trump told the world’s largest retailer to “eat it.”

Economists, businesses and some publicly traded companies have warned that tariffs could raise prices on a wide range of consumer products.

Trump has said he wants to use tariffs to restore manufacturing jobs lost to lower-wage countries in decades past, shift the tax burden away from U.S. families, and pay down the national debt.

A tariff is a tax on imported goods paid by the person or company that imports the goods. The importer can absorb the cost of the tariffs or try to pass the cost on to consumers through higher prices.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illegal border crossings reach lowest level in recorded US history in July

Illegal border crossings reach lowest level in recorded US history in July

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Illegal border crossings nationwide dropped to their lowest level in recorded history in July, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. “CBP...
GE Appliances announces $3 billion investment in U.S. production

GE Appliances announces $3 billion investment in U.S. production

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square GE Appliances announced a $3 billion investment over the next five years to increase production at facilities across the country. The appliance manufacturer, whose parent...
VA reduces benefits backlog as concerns linger over potential cuts

VA reduces benefits backlog as concerns linger over potential cuts

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The Department of Veterans Affairs said it processed more disability benefits compensation and pension ratings claims in a year than ever before, despite concerns that...
DOJ settles West Point lawsuit over race-based admissions

DOJ settles West Point lawsuit over race-based admissions

By Chris WadeThe Center Square The Justice Department has reached a settlement with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to resolve a federal lawsuit targeting the elite schools over...
Texas AG Paxton files motion of contempt against O’Rourke

Texas AG Paxton files motion of contempt against O’Rourke

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a motion for contempt against former U.S. Rep. Robert Francis (Beto) O’Rourke claiming he violated a temporary restraining...
WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Wednesday Aug. 13th, 2025

WATCH: Illinois In Focus Daily | Wednesday Aug. 13th, 2025

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop shares comments from...
Illinois law empowers officials to crack down on predatory towing

Illinois law empowers officials to crack down on predatory towing

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Beginning Jan. 1, a new Illinois law cracks down on predatory towing by letting the Illinois...
Texas Supreme Court sets expedited schedule in Paxton, 13 House Dems case

Texas Supreme Court sets expedited schedule in Paxton, 13 House Dems case

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Texas Supreme Court has set an expedited schedule in a case filed by Attorney General Ken Paxton requesting the court remove 13 Texas House...
Texas Supreme Court sets expedited briefing schedule in Abbott-Wu case

Texas Supreme Court sets expedited briefing schedule in Abbott-Wu case

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Texas Supreme Court has set an expedited briefing schedule in a case filed by Gov. Greg Abbott to remove from office House Democratic Caucus...
Illinois quick hits: Former Chicago schools dean sentenced for sexual assault

Illinois quick hits: Former Chicago schools dean sentenced for sexual assault

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Former Chicago schools dean sentenced for sexual assault A former Chicago public school dean has been sentenced to 22 years in...
Friday meeting with Putin a ‘listening exercise’ for Trump, Leavitt says

Friday meeting with Putin a ‘listening exercise’ for Trump, Leavitt says

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Tuesday that the president’s expectations for his Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin aren’t perhaps as high...
S&P 500, Nasdaq enjoy record day

S&P 500, Nasdaq enjoy record day

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Two of the major three stock indices closed at all-time highs Tuesday amidst speculation that the Federal Reserve may reduce interest rates in September. The...
Trump condemns possible low-income housing Pacific Palisades rebuild

Trump condemns possible low-income housing Pacific Palisades rebuild

By Kenneth SchruppThe Center Square President Donald Trump condemned the possibility of building low-income housing in the Pacific Palisades, and the City of Los Angeles’s slow issuance of rebuilding permits...
Pro-marijuana groups claim reclassification would be good for businesses

Pro-marijuana groups claim reclassification would be good for businesses

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration is looking to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, which could lessen criminal penalties and expand banking opportunities for companies in...
Illinois quick hits: Fatal crash involved Guatemalan national; tentative Chicago firefighters contract

Illinois quick hits: Fatal crash involved Guatemalan national; tentative Chicago firefighters contract

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Fatal crash involved Guatemalan national The Stephenson County Sheriff’s Department says toxicology testing will be conducted to determine if alcohol was...