On April 2, 2025, a day christened “Liberation Day,” President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imported goods from dozens of countries around the world, arguing that the move would create jobs in the United States by reversing what he charged had been a decades-long decimation of U.S. manufacturing by free trade policies and unfair foreign competition. Critics called the president’s moves erratic and his promises to bring back the heyday of American manufacturing unrealistic, while supporters argued that it was past time for the United States to stand up to countries that had flooded it with cheap products while erecting their own trade barriers against U.S. exports. This new article from Issues & Controversies highlights the ongoing discussion happening in the U.S. about tariffs. 

Do tariffs benefit the U.S. economy? Here is a sample of the arguments on both sides of the issue you’ll find in this new Issues & Controversies’ article.

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A Featured Controversy from Issues & Controversies:
Tariffs: Do Import Duties Benefit the U.S. Economy?

TARIFF SUPPORTERS ARGUE	TARIFF OPPONENTS ARGUE
Free trade has been a disaster for American workers. Other countries implement tariffs to protect their domestic industries, and the United States should respond in kind. By shielding U.S. industry from unfair foreign competition, tariffs will improve life for American workers and pave the way for a revival in U.S. manufacturing.	Free trade has granted consumers more choice and cheaper prices while supercharging economic growth for the United States and the world. Imposing tariffs sparks trade wars that hamper U.S. businesses, penalizes consumers, dangerously isolates the United States from its allies, and threatens to drive the U.S. economy into a recession.

 

 

Issues & Controversies is the place to direct researchers who want to understand both sides of divisive topics in politics, government, business, society, education, and popular culture. Students preparing for debates or putting together persuasive writing assignments as well as researchers who want an unbiased look at the most polarizing issues and conflicts in contemporary American society will benefit from Issues & Controversies’ timely, in-depth, and balanced pro/con articles. 

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This pro/con article on tariffs links to rich related resources that enhance the debate. Students and researchers can explore: 

• “By the Numbers” data, covering every number and statistic in the article related to tariffs, free trade, and the U.S. economy
• Primary sources that provide context, including the White House’s fact sheet on the “Liberation Day” tariffs
• Debate videos from the Open to Debate Foundation and NPR podcasts from Fresh Air on related issues
• Infographics presenting vast amounts of information in easy-to-access charts, graphs, and tables
• Editorials from the Chicago Tribune, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The New Republic, and many other prominent newspapers and magazines from across the country and covering the entire political spectrum
• A Reuters® newsfeed covering the latest breaking events and news stories
• A chronology of key events in the history of tariffs, going back to 1773
• A bibliography and further resources for further exploration of the topic
• Discussion questions to inspire critical thinking and analysis
• And more.

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