There are few things more American than voting with your pocketbook. Sure, we talk about values, character, and leadership—but come election day, it often boils down to one question: Am I paying more for eggs than I was last year?

Enter the humble tariff—an ancient tool of economic warfare that’s recently been dusted off and waved around like a magic wand. The idea? Make imported goods more expensive so consumers are nudged to “Buy American.” The result? We end up paying more for the same stuff we used to grumble about being overpriced before tariffs.

Goldman Sachs economists estimate that roughly 70% of the direct cost of tariffs is eventually passed on to consumers. That’s right. You. Me. Grandma. Even that neighbor who claims they only buy “locally sourced artisanal cheese.” If that cheese arrives in a truck with tires made overseas, it’s going to cost more. And 70% is the low estimate—depending on how much domestic producers hike their prices to “stay competitive,” that figure could go even higher. It’s like a group project where no one else does the work and you’re still the one paying for the pizza.

To be fair, tariffs can be used for legitimate purposes—protecting a budding industry, leveling a playing field, or responding to unfair trade practices. But lately, they’ve been used more like emotional tweets: erratic, impulsive, and surprisingly costly.

In recent years, we’ve seen tariffs wielded as political punishment. Want to punish a foreign country for something unrelated to trade? Slap on a tariff. Want to flex some geopolitical muscle? Tariff. Want to win over Rust Belt voters without passing meaningful legislation? Tariff!

Of course, tariffs don’t exist in a vacuum. In our tightly connected global economy, they reverberate. Countries don’t just take the hit and move on—they retaliate. They impose their own tariffs. Suddenly, it’s not just imported electronics and steel that cost more. Farmers can’t sell soybeans abroad. Factories can’t get the parts they need. Meanwhile, you just want to replace your refrigerator without applying for a small loan.

And politically? It’s a gamble. Sure, a President might think looking tough on China plays well on TV, but when voters are staring down $5 strawberries and can’t afford a new washing machine, all the tough talk starts to sound a bit hollow.

The median voter—who just wants to see prices come down from their COVID-era highs—isn’t amused. Remember all those promises about inflation cooling down post-pandemic? People were expecting relief, not a continuation of the economic pressure that had them wondering if oatmeal was a viable dinner option.

And here’s where the strategy really falls apart: tariffs rarely achieve their intended goal of strengthening the domestic economy. Sure, they can offer short-term protection for select industries. But they also reduce competition, which slows innovation. They reward inefficiency. And they make everything—from phones to dish soap—more expensive for regular people. It’s a bit like setting your house on fire to keep your coffee warm.

On top of that, squabbling with trade partners in today’s digital, interconnected world is like picking a fight with your next-door neighbor when you both have security cameras, microphones, and a Twitter following. It’s messy. It’s visible. And it’s usually not worth it.

Which brings us to the current moment. As we march toward another election, tariffs have once again become a talking point. Some candidates treat them like miracle cures for economic woes—“We’ll bring back jobs! We’ll stop China! We’ll make things cheaper!” The irony is rich: tariffs usually make things more expensive. You don’t protect the working class by making their groceries cost more.

Let’s be clear: global trade is complicated. Not every policy is black-and-white. But using tariffs like fly swatters—lashing out every time the political winds change—is a dangerous game with real economic consequences.

The average voter may not care about trade policy jargon or the nuances of supply chains. But they do care about whether they can afford school supplies, groceries, and a tank of gas. They notice when the cost of everyday life creeps up—especially when no one can explain why.

So maybe it’s time for leaders to take a breath, put down the tariff stick, and remember who really pays the price. Because in the end, the great tragedy of the modern tariff isn’t just that it fails economically—it fails politically, too.

And if the only thing tariffs produce reliably is angry consumers and $40 toaster ovens, maybe we should go back to the drawing board.

Tariff War

Harm Bengen
www.w-t-w.org/en/harm-bengen
www.harmbengen.de