Tariffs go directly into the treasury. Consumers pay for tariffs with higher costs for most of what we purchase. It is a tax on us; I think we all get that now.
In the meantime, this is where the ruse comes in: President Trump will be using the expected tariffs as part of his revenue projections for getting approval for his upcoming federal budget. That budget will include lower taxes for the very rich and for corporations while the rest of us (lower and middle class) will actually be paying for it with higher prices.
What happens to the tariffs once the president’s budget is approved? I have no idea, but I suspect the damage will have already been done to our economy. Most of us will feel the pain while the ultra-wealthy will reap the benefits.
Edward Ezzard
Topsham
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Join the Conversation
We believe it’s important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It’s a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. Read more...
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
For those stories that we do enable discussion, our system may hold up comments pending the approval of a moderator for several reasons, including possible violation of our guidelines. As the Maine Trust’s digital team reviews these comments, we ask for patience.
Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday and limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is found on our FAQs.
You can modify your screen name here.
Show less
Join the Conversation
Please sign into your CentralMaine.com account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.