As the burden was spread over many businesses, and across all US consumers, it’s impossible to quantify what proportion was shouldered by individual retailers or individual consumers. It’s not surprising that importers passed on the tariffs, as their margins are generally narrow, with little capacity to absorb the extra charge. While the tariffs were illegal, repayment would be a minefield, given the uncertainty about who actually lost out. Thus, much of the repayment of the illegal tariffs would go to firms that did not really suffer from their imposition. [ Trump’s new tariffs: What do we know now?Opens in new window ]It is congress, not the president, that is responsible for tariffs.

Source: The Irish Times March 02, 2026 14:00 UTC