The United States amassed over $87 billion in tariff revenue in the first half of 2025, exceeding the $79 billion collected throughout the entirety of 2024, based on U.S. Treasury figures compiled by AFP.
This increase aligns with President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape America’s trade policies. Since re-entering the White House, Trump has dismantled decades of post-WWII economic strategies that prioritized free trade, choosing instead to apply tariffs across a broad spectrum of trading partners and goods, including steel.
Although the U.S. has secured new trade pacts with multiple nations, the finalized tariffs are typically lower than the highest rates Trump initially proposed, yet they remain considerably higher than prior standards.
June alone generated $26.6 billion in tariff revenue—almost four times the amount collected in January—setting the stage for one of the most lucrative years for U.S. tariff enforcement. The record for annual tariff revenue was set in 2022 at $98 billion.
On Thursday, Trump praised the success of his trade approach, asserting that the extensive tariffs are making the nation “great & rich again.” He shared on his Truth Social platform:
“ONE YEAR AGO, AMERICA WAS A DEAD COUNTRY, NOW IT IS THE ‘HOTTEST’ COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.”
New trade agreements and tariff increases—including a 50% tax on copper imports—are scheduled to begin on August 1. Approximately 80 countries, including the 27 EU member states, will encounter new tariff rates ranging from 11% to 50%.
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