How much does US make from the new tariffs? Not $2b a day as Trump claims

President Donald Trump has claimed that his tariff strategy is generating nearly $2 billion a day in revenue for the United States — but official data shows a far smaller return.

According to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which collects tariffs at ports of entry, the federal government has received approximately $21 billion in tariff revenue since January 20, 2025, which is almost a fraction of the figure Trump claims.

Only $500 million of that came after Trump’s latest round of tariffs, introduced on April 5.

“$2 billion a day” would imply nearly $30 billion in revenue since that date — a figure far above what the agency confirms.

“We're taking in almost $2 billion a day in tariffs,” Trump said at an event on April 8. “$2 billion a day and we're doing very well.”

The White House has not clarified the discrepancy.

Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs, announced on April 2, initially imposed a 10% baseline duty on nearly all imports. That was followed by steeper rates on certain countries, including 145% on goods from China.

However, the administration paused most of the new tariffs for 90 days on April 10, citing public concern.

China, the only country not granted the pause, has responded with retaliatory tariffs of 125% and advised its airlines to halt orders for Boeing and other US-made aircraft parts. On Tuesday, the White House said Chinese goods may now face tariffs as high as 245%.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Wednesday warned of the economic impact, saying the tariffs are “larger than anticipated” and will likely “include higher inflation and slower growth.”

Business owners across several states report adding “Trump surcharges” to customer invoices to offset rising costs.

A Morning Consult poll released this week shows Trump’s approval rating slipping to 45%, the lowest of his second term.

The survey also found a majority of Americans now trust Democrats more than Republicans to manage the economy — the first such result since 2021.