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American households shoulder higher import taxes under President Trump’s tariff program as November revenues slip. The Treasury Department released its November statement on Wednesday. The agency reported $30.76 billion of customs duties, down from $31.35 billion in October. Revenues remain above last year’s November level, while collections reached $6.71 billion.
The decrease followed an executive order on November 14 that removed duties on several grocery staples. The White House excluded coffee, tea, beef, bananas, tropical fruit, and cocoa to ease price pressures. Earlier in the year, Trump imposed new tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada, and China. The measures took full effect in March and drove a rapid rise in tariff revenues.
Treasury data show total tariff collections of $236.16 billion so far this year. The figure comes as the Congressional Budget Office cut its 10-year forecast for tariff receipts by $1 trillion. A Supreme Court case on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act adds further uncertainty, as a ruling that limits presidential authority could cancel a large share of existing duties.
Democrats on the Joint Economic Committee released estimates that showed American consumers paid nearly $159 billion in tariff costs from February through November. The report put the average burden at about $1,198 per household.
Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire said the findings indicated that higher import taxes would raise living costs for families. The study drew on Treasury revenue figures and private research on how companies pass tariff costs to buyers.
Economist Kimberly Clausing told lawmakers that the current tariff structure acts like a major tax increase. She estimated that Trump’s import duties could add $1,700 to the typical household bill each year. White House officials defended the policy. They argued that higher border taxes protect US industries and support new investments and factory jobs.
Shipping data show that US seaborne imports fell 3.2% year over year in November. Containerized freight volumes still rose slightly from October after seasonal adjustment.
Tariff differences have reshaped sourcing patterns.
Imports from mainland China dropped by 17.2% in November. Deliveries from the ASEAN region rose 21.9% as companies rerouted orders toward countries with lower duty rates. Shipments from India fell 18.7%, reflecting a 50% tariff rate tied to the country’s oil trade with Russia.
Imports from the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, and the United Kingdom climbed 10.8%. Exporters in those regions pay lower US tariff rates than many Asian suppliers. Analysts expect further changes in trade flows if Washington expands exemptions, especially for food and other goods.
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