TCT-ECO-006 · Taxes & trade
Tariffs brought in “hundreds of billions of dollars a year” during the first term
Statement and context
“We took in hundreds of billions of dollars a year from China.”
April 10, 2025, Cabinet meeting.
What the evidence shows
Treasury reported total customs duties from all countries of $41.3 billion in FY2018 and $70.8 billion in FY2019. These were substantial increases, but neither total is “hundreds of billions” in a year, and the receipts were paid by importers at U.S. ports, not transferred by China.
False. The annual amount and payer are both misstated.
Sources and attribution
Tracker research synthesis; inspect the linked evidence and research record.