Retail Tariff Statistics

Highlights. Tariffs apply to 45.0% of consumer goods by value imported to the U.S. 

• The largest U.S. retailers import 70.9% of their inventory.
• Theoretically, proposed tariffs collected on all imports could total $300 billion for 2025.
• In 2024, importers paid a total of $77 billion in tariffs.
• Tariffs for all products could total up to $3.0 trillion over 10 years (until 2035).
• Proposed tariffs equate to $2,269 per U.S. household.

Import Tariff Statistics

All products and materials imported to the United States are subject to a 10% universal** tariff.

• As of April 15, 2025, imports from China may include tariffs of up to 245%.
• The average tariff rate in 2025 (11.5%) is the highest since 1943.
• Proposed tariffs bring the average rate on all imports up to 17.7%.
• Compared to the average tariff in 2024 (2.5%), proposed tariffs in 2025 are 360% higher.

**As of April 5, 2025, this tariff excludes Canada, Mexico, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, and Belarus.

Retail Import Statistics

Goods imported for retail include consumer goods (i.e., retail merchandise) and intermediate goods, which are those used in the production of retail goods; examples include raw silk, wood, and rubber.

• The U.S. imports more cars than any other product by value.
• Consumer goods (i.e. retail products) represent 36.3% of imports by value.
• The U.S. imported $806.1 billion in consumer goods in 2024.
• A majority share of imported consumer goods by value (42.51%) comes from the East Asia and Pacific regions; 20.8% comes from China, specifically.

Retail Tariff Statistics

Most imported retail products (55% by value) are duty-free, meaning tariffs do not apply.

• In 2024, U.S. importers of retail goods paid $41.89 billion in tariffs.
• Over five (5) years, retail tariffs paid a total of $176.8 billion to the federal government.
• The cost of retail tariffs per household was $316 in 2024.
• The weighted average tariff on imported consumer goods is approximately 3.06%.

How Tariffs Affect Retail

Tariffs influence inventory and the end cost to the consumer. 

• The price of imported wheat is projected to increase 14.9% in 2025 as a result of U.S. tariffs.
• Projections indicate that the cost of fruits, vegetables, and nuts will increase 7.2%.
• A 20% tariff is associated with an 18.9% increase in cost to the importer.
• Goods affected by the 20% tariff of 2018 increased in relative price by 0.7% with the largest U.S. retailers.
• Leading retailers reduced certain imports 23.5% as a result of the 20% tariff in 2018.

Grocery Tariff Statistics

The United States imports more agricultural products from Mexico than from any other country.

• The cost of cereals and grains is expected to increase 6.6% in 2025 as a result of U.S. tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada.
• Projections indicate that meat prices will increase 5.8%.
• The cost of sugar will increase by an estimated 4.5%.
• Agricultural imports from Mexico totaled $45.38 billion in 2023.
• 99% of strawberries sold in the U.S. are imported from Mexico.
• The U.S. imported $40.14 billion in products from Canada in 2023.

Automobile Tariff Statistics

Half of the 16 million motor vehicles purchased in the United States in 2024 were imports.

• Imported automotives and certain auto parts are subject to a 25% universal tariff.
• Among vehicles assembled in the United States, an estimated 55% of parts are imported.
• All imported steel and aluminum are subject to a 25% tariff under Section 232.

How Many Products Are Imported

Major U.S. retailers list 198,718 products; 140,898 of those products are imported.

• The largest U.S. retailers import 48.3% of their products from China; 29.1% are made in the U.S.
• In 2024, the value of imported consumer goods represented 16.0% of U.S. retail sales.
• U.S. retail sales (including food service) totaled an estimated $8.386 trillion in 2024.
• The value of imported consumer goods totaled $1.225 trillion in 2022.
• The value of tariffed imports totaled $543.220 billion in 2022; duty-free imports were valued at $576.306 billion. 

Trade Balance Statistics

The value of a market’s imports subtracted from its exports defines its trade balance. If a nation exports more than it imports, it has a positive trade balance.

• U.S. imports are worth more than exports, resulting in a $1.311 trillion global trade deficit for the U.S.
• 1975 saw the largest annual trade surplus ($12.4 billion).
• The United States has had a negative trade balance or “deficit” every year since 1976.
• Prior to that, the U.S. had a positive trade balance or “surplus” for the decades following 1870.
• While the U.S. has a favorable trade balance of services ($311.87 billion), excessive imported goods result in a negative trade balance (-$1.215 trillion).
• The largest U.S. trade deficit is with China, totaling $262.152 billion in 2024.
• The U.S. has a positive service trade balance with all trade partners except Germany, France, Italy, India, and Belgium.

Tariffs by Point of Departure

Canada is the primary trading partner for 23  U.S. states.

• 17.1% of all imported products (including retail items) come from China, giving it the largest market share for goods imported to the U.S.
• The U.S. imported $255 billion in consumer goods from China in 2022.
• Consumer goods imported from Mexico totaled $137 billion; imports from Canada totaled $123 billion.

Points of Origin by State

State	Main Export Partner	Share of Total State Imports
Alabama	Mexico	17%
Alaska	South Korea	33%
Arizona	Mexico	28%
Arkansas	Canada	14%
California	China	25%
Colorado	Canada	33%
Connecticut	Canada	25%
Delaware	Canada	10%
District of Columbia	Australia	24%
Florida	China	11%
Georgia	China	12%
Hawaii	South Korea	28%
Idaho	Malaysia	50%
Illinois	Canada	29%
Indiana	Ireland	31%
Iowa	Canada	25%
Kansas	Canada	15%
Kentucky	Mexico	10%
Louisiana	Mexico	14%
Maine	Canada	67%
Maryland	Germany	18%
Massachusetts	Canada	25%
Michigan	Mexico	44%
Minnesota	Canada	35%
Mississippi	Mexico	15%
Missouri	Mexico	23%
Montana	Canada	86%
Nebraska	Canada	17%
Nevada	China	23%
New Hampshire	Canada	22%
New Jersey	China	9%
New Mexico	Mexico	25%
New York	Canada	12%
North Carolina	Ireland	14%
North Dakota	Canada	75%
Ohio	Canada	22%
Oklahoma	Canada	50%
Oregon	Japan	15%
Pennsylvania	China	13%
Rhode Island	Germany	20%
South Carolina	China	15%
South Dakota	Canada	30%
Tennessee	China	17%
Texas	Mexico	40%
Utah	Mexico	20%
Vermont	Canada	67%
Virginia	China	13%
Washington	Canada	28%
West Virginia	Canada	40%
Wisconsin	Canada	17%
Wyoming	Canada	66%

Import Tariff Statistics

The United States identifies 390,000 unique import categories; 187,000 of these are considered consumer goods.

• The United States imports 13.5% of all products, more than any other country in the world.
• U.S. imports cost a total of $3.373 trillion in 2022 while exports were valued at $2.062 trillion.

These data and insights were compiled by the Capital One Shopping team based on publicly available data.

Sources

1. World Bank, World Integrated Trade Solution
2. The White House, News
3. Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, How Much Will Trump’s New Tariffs Raise?
4. U.S. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Historical U.S. Trade Deficits
5. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, International Trade in Goods and Services
6. U.S. Census Bureau
7. World Trade Organization
8. Harvard Business School, Research Publications
9. Statista, Industry Overview
10. RV Industry Association, New & Insights
11. Congress, U.S. Tariff Policy: Overview