Trump's tariff policies, initiated in 2018, imposed significant levies on billions of dollars in imports, primarily from China, but also from allies such as the European Union, Canada, and Mexico. These tariffs, framed in the pursuit of reducing trade deficits and protecting domestic industries, raised costs for American businesses and consumers, and distorted global supply chains. They provoked retaliation from other countries, leading to trade wars and increased economic uncertainty. Although the goal was to boost domestic manufacturing, studies suggest that the tariffs contributed to a slowdown in GDP growth and an increase in prices, essentially acting as a tax increase for American households.