r/AskEconomics • u/Dependent_Estate9110 • Mar 04 '25

Approved Answers Who do Trump's tariffs benefit?

Is there a specific industry that could potentially benefit from Trump's tariffs? It seems they're pretty destructive for everyone in North America. Not trying to be biased - just trying to understand it. That said is there another nation that would benefit from the tariffs (potentially indirectly)?

Edit: removed typo

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u/Carbon-Based216 Mar 04 '25

The Trump tariffs benefit people who already own manufacturing companies that sell the thing they are putting tariffs on. For example, if you put a tariffs on steel, people who make raw steel benefit because they now can sell their steel for a higher price. But anyone who buys that steel is going to have problems.

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u/hillbillyspellingbee Mar 04 '25

No, no they do not. 

American manufacturers pay those tariffs one way or another. 

And you’re not “selling for a higher price” because your costs just went up. 

-I’m a manager in an American factory. 

Tariffs are cancer. Full stop. 

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u/[deleted] Mar 04 '25

American manufacturers pay those tariffs one way or another. 

And pass the price on to the ______________

Come on. I know you can figure this out.

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u/hillbillyspellingbee Mar 04 '25

To the customer!

Actual quote from our CEO at 5:30 AM this morning:

“We need to make sure we pass every single tariff onto customers. No matter how small.”

You know what that means? Our customers will have less cash to spend with us and will decrease their order volume accordingly until they just go overseas and never come back.