INTRODUCTION

Tariffs are “a type of tax levied by a country on an imported good at the border” and are used by countries to collect additional revenue and protect domestic producers (Investopedia). Often, countries employ tariffs to protect specific industries or jobs, but they can also be implemented as part of a broader foreign policy strategy to gain leverage in economic negotiations. Supporters of tariffs argue that they can successfully be used to accomplish three primary objectives: combat unfair trading practices, promote national security, and foster economic competitiveness domestically and internationally (Council on Foreign Relations). In fact, politicians on “the left and the right increasingly favor tariffs” as they can be seen to “create good jobs, increase economic growth, and decrease trade deficits.”

However, critics of tariffs argue that they can make “domestic industries less efficient,” hurt consumers with higher prices, and generate international tensions and trade wars (Investopedia). Additionally, the Council on Foreign Relations states that tariffs may shrink a country’s economy, as the purchasing power of both domestic producers and consumers shrinks. Specific to the United States, increased concerns have been raised about tariff policies since 2016. While tariffs “largely fell out of favor” after World War Two, President Donald Trump “imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of imported goods from China” in his first term, President Joe Biden kept many of those tariffs in place and crafted his own during his time in office, and President Trump has continued his use of the tool in his second term, often with broader use than before.

So what should be done? This deliberation presents fourteen video clips, two articles, and numerous education activities to guide students through a review of the debate over whether the use of tariffs is overall good or bad for America. After a careful review of multiple perspectives, students will determine whether tariffs should or should not be used and be presented with several optional extensions to take an active role in the debate.

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Objectives and Outcomes

• Students will be able to describe key vocabulary terms and concepts associated with the debate surrounding whether the use of tariffs is overall good or bad for America.
  
  
• Students will be able to identify and explain aspects of the debate surrounding whether the use of tariffs is overall good or bad for America, including those arguments related to unfair trading practices, national security, domestic production, and costs to consumers.
  
  
• Students will be able to evaluate arguments related to the debate surrounding whether the use of tariffs is overall good or bad for America and formulate an opinion on this question.

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