Who Really Pays for Tariffs? Trump’s Trade War with China Explained
Tariffs are often sold as a way to protect jobs and punish foreign competition — but history shows the costs usually land closer to home. In this WIW explainer, we look at Trump’s 2025 tariff hikes on China through the lens of past trade wars and their impact on American businesses, farmers, and consumers.
From steel and cars to washing machines and soybeans, tariffs have acted like invisible taxes in the past, raising prices across the board while fueling retaliation. Economic studies on earlier U.S. tariffs (2018–2019) found:
✅ Washing machine prices jumped ~12% after tariffs (University of Chicago / AEA study)
✅ Over 75,000 jobs were lost in downstream industries after steel tariffs, even while some steel jobs were saved (Federal Reserve study)
✅ Small farms and exporters suffered when China retaliated against U.S. goods (USDA reports, 2019)
While exact outcomes in 2025 are still developing, the evidence from past tariff battles makes the risks clear: higher costs for consumers, lost markets for farmers, and tougher conditions for small businesses.
Your voice matters. By understanding how tariffs and trade policy shape working conditions, taxes, and the economy, you can decide what kind of future you want to support. Join the grassroots community of Where I Was (WIW) as we speak truth to power and connect public policy to real-world impact.
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Register and join a growing grassroots community of people who believe in the power of collective action. You’re not alone. Together, we speak truth to power and hold politicians accountable through civic engagement, shared purpose, and real stories.
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VIDEO SOURCES & REFERENCES
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Official & Primary Research
• Federal Reserve Board: https://www.federalreserve.gov/econre...
• American Economic Association: https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10...
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/fi...
Trade & Policy Context: 2025 Tariffs
• China Briefing: https://www.china-briefing.com/news/u...
• Avalara: https://www.avalara.com/blog/en/north...
• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tariffs...
Supporting Analysis & Summaries
• Becker Friedman Institute (UChicago): https://bfi.uchicago.edu/insight/rese...
• University of Chicago News: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/what-...
• Econofact: https://econofact.org/are-tariffs-rai...
WHERE I WAS
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We are a grassroots group of people. We are not Republicans, Democrats, Socialists, Right Wingers, Left Wingers or anything in between. We are supported by small donations. We are normal Americans working to empower the little guy and pull our democracy back from the billionaires. The way we plan to do this is by sharing people’s personal stories outlining how the actions of our politicians have affected us. The website name, Where I Was, was chosen specifically so you can share “Where YOU Were,” and contrast that with Where YOU are NOW, because of actions by your politicians.
NOTE: People’s privacy is strictly protected. Stories are written under a person’s chosen alias or pen name. If news media want to follow up on an individual’s story, WE will write the individual ourselves before sharing a story writer’s email address.
RESOURCES:
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🌐 US Department of Labor
https://www.dol.gov/general/contact
🌐 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:
https://www.eeoc.gov/contact-eeoc
🌐 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (dial 988):
https://988lifeline.org/
▶️ What happens when you dial 988:
• Here's What Happens When You Call 988
📞 Legal Aid or Free Employment Lawyer Services:
Dial 211
SOCIALS & CONTACT INFO
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👤 Facebook Page - WhereIWas:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
▶️ Youtube:
/ @4whereiwas
📫 Email: [email protected]
CREDITS
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🎬 Video Production: Atif Studios
📫 Contact: [email protected]
TIMESTAMPS
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0:00 – Intro
0:15 – What Are Tariffs?
0:45 – Who Actually Pays Tariffs?
1:20 – U.S.-China Trade War Escalates
1:52 – Steel, Cars & Washing Machines Tariffs
2:25 – Retaliation: China Hits Back
3:00 – The Hidden Cost of Tariffs | Inflation & Supply Chains
3:36 – Closing
#youdecide #tradewar2025 #yourvoicematters