A recent economic study released an interesting data point: the tariff policies implemented by the United States over the past two years have resulted in a serious imbalance in cost distribution. According to an analysis by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy in Germany, from early 2024 to November of this year, approximately 96% of the burden of imported goods tariffs in the US ultimately fell on American consumers and importers, while foreign exporters only bore about 4%.

What does this mean? In simple terms, importers and consumers are footing the bill for these policies. Rising import prices and increased supply chain costs are ultimately passed on to the retail sector. For industries and consumer markets that rely on imported goods, this cost pressure is very real. Moreover, this stark distribution ratio also reflects the complexity of trade policy implementation—there is often a significant gap between the original intent of tariff policies and their final impact.