U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer details the Trump administration’s new tariff announcements, trade policy, China negotiations on TikTok and more on ‘Kudlow.’
As customs revenues increase under his administration, the president Donald Trump is planning an unprecedented appearance before the Supreme Court for oral arguments next month in a case that could define the future of its trade agenda.
His potential presence, which would mark the first time a sitting president would attend Supreme Court proceedings in person, underscores the extent to which import tariffs have become a cornerstone of Trump’s economic strategy and a defining element of his presidency.
Trump’s tariffs generate more than $200 billion in revenue as Supreme Court weighs legality challenge
President Donald Trump said he could attend Supreme Court arguments next month in a key tariff case that could decide the future of his trade policy. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
This emphasis is reflected in the data: Treasury Department figures show tariff collections have reached record levels, surpassing those of former President Joe Biden.
Tariff revenue grew steadily from $17.4 billion in April to $23.9 billion in May, before climbing to $28 billion in June and reaching $29 billion in July.
This momentum continued in August and September, when the government collected record monthly revenues totaling $62.6 billion.
BESSENT DEFENDS TRUMP TARIFFS AGAINST CLAIMS THEY HURT US BUSINESSES
For the entire 2025 fiscal year, total revenue from customs duties reached $215.2 billion, according to the Treasury’s “Customs and Certain Excise Taxes” report released on September 30.
U.S. companies pay these import taxes directly to the federal government, but they often pass on the cost by raising prices, meaning consumers ultimately bear much of the burden.
Trump continues to defend his use of tariffs as a way to counter what he sees as decades of unfair trade practices, an approach that underscores how deeply trade has been integrated into his broader economic agenda.
TRUMP SAYS WE HAVE BEEN “THE KING OF TRADE IMBALANCE”
U.S. companies pay import taxes directly to the federal government. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
“Tariffs have been used against the United States for years,” Trump said on Fox News.Sunday morning futures“.
“It would still bother me so much, I would look, and I would say: how can they allow this to happen to our country? We lost 55% of our auto business because we didn’t use tariffs. If we had used tariffs, we wouldn’t have lost anything.”
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Trump said his administration does not currently have a backup plan in case the Supreme Court strikes down his tariff policy.
“I’m going to have to find a solution. I don’t even want to think about it,” he said.
