237 Years of Tariffs
From Hamilton's first tariff in 1789 to today's trade war. Explore how US tariff rates have risen and fallen — and the economic consequences each time.
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The US effective tariff rate jumped from 1.4% in 2017 to over 13% in 2026 — the fastest increase in American history. The last time rates were this high, the Smoot-Hawley Tariff had just deepened the Great Depression.
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