What is the story about?
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday night addressed the nation, where he called tariffs his "favourite word". One of the first tasks of the Trump 2.0 administration was to impose sweeping tariffs across the world at the cost of harming Washington's ties with some of its allies.
Trump shared the report card of his administration in his address to the nation, where he highlighted that record levels of investments are flowing into the country, thanks to his policies.
Describing tariffs as a central tool of his economic policies, Trump said, "Much of this success has been accomplished by tariffs, my favourite word, tariffs, which, for many decades, have been used successfully by other countries against us, but not anymore. Companies know that if they build in America, there are no tariffs, and that's why they're coming home to the USA in record numbers. They're building factories and plants at levels we haven't seen, AI, automobiles.”
The US Customs and Border Protection released a report earlier this week, saying that the country has collected more than $200 billion in tariffs this year as a result of new duties imposed by Trump.
“Between Jan. 20 and Dec. 15, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection collected more than $200 billion in tariffs thanks to more than 40 executive orders put in place by President Donald Trump’s Administration,” CBP said.
“This figure underscores CBP’s effectiveness in promoting secure, fair, and compliant trade, strengthening America’s national and economic security,” it added.
Tariff revenue fell in November for the first time since Trump rolled out sweeping new import duties in April. The government took in $30.75 billion from tariffs during the month, down modestly from $31.15 billion in October.
Earlier this year, Trump moved without congressional approval to introduce what he described as reciprocal tariffs on goods from most countries worldwide. He also levied separate “fentanyl tariffs” on imports from Canada, China and Mexico, saying the measures were in response to those governments’ failure to curb the flow of the drug into the United States.
Trump shared the report card of his administration in his address to the nation, where he highlighted that record levels of investments are flowing into the country, thanks to his policies.
Describing tariffs as a central tool of his economic policies, Trump said, "Much of this success has been accomplished by tariffs, my favourite word, tariffs, which, for many decades, have been used successfully by other countries against us, but not anymore. Companies know that if they build in America, there are no tariffs, and that's why they're coming home to the USA in record numbers. They're building factories and plants at levels we haven't seen, AI, automobiles.”
How much wealth have tariffs generated?
The US Customs and Border Protection released a report earlier this week, saying that the country has collected more than $200 billion in tariffs this year as a result of new duties imposed by Trump.
“Between Jan. 20 and Dec. 15, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection collected more than $200 billion in tariffs thanks to more than 40 executive orders put in place by President Donald Trump’s Administration,” CBP said.
“This figure underscores CBP’s effectiveness in promoting secure, fair, and compliant trade, strengthening America’s national and economic security,” it added.
Tariff revenue fell in November for the first time since Trump rolled out sweeping new import duties in April. The government took in $30.75 billion from tariffs during the month, down modestly from $31.15 billion in October.
Earlier this year, Trump moved without congressional approval to introduce what he described as reciprocal tariffs on goods from most countries worldwide. He also levied separate “fentanyl tariffs” on imports from Canada, China and Mexico, saying the measures were in response to those governments’ failure to curb the flow of the drug into the United States.
