Ross Burkhart, professor of political science, was quoted in an article published by PolitiFact, a news service that assesses the accuracy of statements by public officials.
The article, “Who pays for US tariffs on Chinese goods? You do,” addresses a statement made by President Trump last week: “So our country can take in $120 billion a year in tariffs, paid for mostly by China, by the way, not by us. A lot of people try and steer it in a different direction. It’s really paid — ultimately, it’s paid for by — largely, by China. And businesses will pour back into our country.”
Burkhart added context to the statement, noting that it is consumers and producers who pay the tariffs, not the country, and that buyers and sellers absorb the costs of tariffs, including loss of market share and reduced demand for products.