U.S. tariffs since 1891, as duties collected on imports

Trade
Duties over all importsDuties over dutiable imports

U.S. tariffs since 1891, as duties collected on imports. 2 series: Duties over all imports, Duties over dutiable imports. Latest, 2025: Duties over all imports 7.8; Duties over dutiable imports 19.7.

Fiscal years to 1918, calendar years after; the half-years the table prints for 1918 and 1930 (Smoot-Hawley took effect on 18 June) are summed. The dutiable-imports ratio excludes duty-free goods, and the USITC notes it is overstated before 1993. Both are weak measures of tariff height, because high tariffs choke off the imports they tax.

See also: Laurence Wilse-Samson, "Economic Coercion", chapter 6, Trade Controls: Tariffs, Quotas, and Export Controls

Classroom exerciseCompare the two lines in 1932 and in 1972. How can duties over dutiable imports rise while duties over all imports fall? Which line better measures protection, and what does each one miss? Teach page

Duties collected as a percent of importsU.S. International Trade Commission, "U.S. imports for consumption, duties collected, and ratio of duties to value, 1891-2025", Table 1 (March 2026); Balance of Power calculations.Data through 2025✓ Checked against USITC Table 1 (March 2026), duties collected over total imports 2025, 7.8 percent✓ Checked against USITC Table 1 (March 2026), duties collected over dutiable imports 1932, 59.1 percent

Cite asBalance of Power, "U.S. tariffs since 1891, as duties collected on imports", data through 2025. Source: U.S. International Trade Commission, "U.S. imports for consumption, duties collected, and ratio of duties to value, 1891-2025", Table 1 (March 2026); Balance of Power calculations.

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Latest values
DateDuties over all importsDuties over dutiable imports
20181.85.6
20192.67.8
20202.88.9
20213.08.9
20222.88.2
20232.47.4
20242.37.5
20257.819.7
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ColumnSourceSeries keyStatusData through
totalusitcTABLE1/totallive2025
dutiableusitcTABLE1/dutiablelive2025