If you’re walking through a big-box store today and wondering why that toaster or set of tires feels like it’s priced for a luxury lifestyle, you aren't alone. The big question—are Trumps tariffs still in place—is actually a bit of a trick. The answer isn't just "yes," but rather that the original ones never really left, and now there’s a massive second wave piling on top of them.
Honestly, the trade landscape in 2026 is a tangled web. We aren't just talking about the old "Phase One" trade deal stuff from years ago. Since the start of his second term in January 2025, President Trump has doubled down, invoking emergency powers to slap new duties on everything from Canadian timber to high-end Nvidia AI chips.
It’s a lot to keep track of. You’ve got legacy Biden-era tweaks mixed with aggressive new Section 232 and IEEPA actions. Basically, if it’s imported, it’s likely carrying a much heavier tax burden than it did even eighteen months ago.
The Short Answer: Yes, and They’ve Multiplied
To be blunt, the "Trump tariffs" of the 2010s are effectively the floor now, not the ceiling. When President Biden was in office, he didn't tear down the wall of tariffs. Instead, he kept most of the Section 301 duties on Chinese goods and even hiked them on things like electric vehicles and semiconductors in late 2024.
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Then came January 2025.
Immediately upon returning to the White House, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). He declared a national emergency regarding the border and trade reciprocity, using that as a legal lever to impose broad 10% to 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. Just this week, in January 2026, we saw a fresh 25% tariff land on advanced AI chips like the Nvidia H200 and AMD MI325X.
Why the Steel and Aluminum Fight is Back
Remember the "Section 232" drama? It’s back in full force. In February 2025, the administration "restored" and expanded these duties. While the Biden administration had moved toward "tariff-rate quotas" (which allowed some duty-free metal from allies like the EU and Japan), those exceptions are mostly gone now.
- Steel: Currently sits at a global 50% rate for most origins.
- Aluminum: Elevated to a universal 25% (and up to 50% in some specific categories).
- The "Melted and Poured" Rule: Customs now strictly enforces where the metal was actually cast, not just where it was finished. This is designed to stop Chinese steel from sneaking in through Mexico.
The impact is hitting the garage and the kitchen. In June 2025, a proclamation extended these 50% steel tariffs to "downstream" products. That means washing machines, dryers, and even some refrigerators are getting hit because of the steel content inside them.
The China "Truce" and the November Deadline
If you’re looking for a silver lining, there is a weird sort of "truce" currently in effect with Beijing. In November 2025, the U.S. and China struck a temporary deal to prevent a total trade blackout.
Under this agreement, the U.S. suspended some of the most "heightened" reciprocal tariffs. In exchange, China agreed to buy 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually through 2028 and eased up on its own export controls on rare earth minerals.
But don't get too comfortable. This suspension has a very specific "sell-by" date: November 10, 2026.
Until then, the baseline 10% reciprocal tariff on most Chinese goods stays active. If the negotiations sour before that deadline, those rates could spike back up to 40% or higher overnight. It's a "sword of Damocles" hanging over every supply chain manager in the country.
Are Trumps Tariffs Still in Place for Our Allies?
This is where it gets spicy. Unlike the first term, where the focus was almost entirely on China, the 2025-2026 era is much more "global."
The administration has been using a "Reciprocal Tax" philosophy. Basically, if France charges a certain tax on American wine, the U.S. wants to match it exactly. This has led to a flurry of 12 joint statements and "framework agreements" with countries like South Korea, the UK, and Switzerland.
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The UK, for instance, managed to negotiate a lower 25% rate on its steel exports compared to the global 50%, but they had to make massive concessions on agricultural access to get it. Most countries are still paying the "baseline" 10% tariff that was proposed as part of the 2025 emergency declarations.
The Supreme Court Factor
Here is something most people are missing: the legality of these new 2025 tariffs is actually being debated in the highest court in the land right now.
Lower federal courts have been a mixed bag. Some judges ruled that the President exceeded his authority under IEEPA by using "border security" as a justification for trade taxes. The case, Learning Resources Inc. v. Trump, is the one to watch.
If the Supreme Court strikes down the IEEPA-based tariffs, billions of dollars in refunds could be owed to U.S. importers. However, the administration has already signaled that if they lose on IEEPA, they will just move the same tariffs under Section 301 or Section 232 authorities. It’s a game of legal whack-a-mole.
What This Means for Your Wallet
The Tax Policy Center estimated that the tariffs in place for 2026 will impose an average burden of about $2,100 per household this year. That’s not a small number.
Customs duties are expected to bring in roughly $247 billion for the Treasury in 2026 alone. While that helps the federal deficit, it’s a direct tax on the people buying the goods. You’ve probably noticed:
- Tech prices are volatile: With the new AI chip tariffs, even consumer-grade hardware is seeing price creep.
- Auto parts are up: The 25% global tariff on truck and bus parts has made repairs significantly more expensive.
- Home Goods: Anything involving heavy metal or "fentanyl-related" country origins (like certain chemical precursors from China) is carrying a 10-25% surcharge.
Actionable Insights for Navigating 2026
If you’re a business owner or a concerned consumer, you can’t just wait for the tariffs to "go away." They are the new normal.
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- Audit Your Origins: If you’re importing, you need to know more than just where the "final" product came from. Check the "melted and poured" status of metal components to avoid surprise 50% duties.
- Sign Up for ACH Refunds: U.S. Customs (CBP) recently mandated that all duty refunds must be electronic via the Automated Clearing House by February 2026. If the Supreme Court does strike down some tariffs, you won't get your money back via a paper check.
- Watch the November 10th Trigger: If you rely on Chinese imports, try to front-load your inventory before the current "truce" expires in late 2026.
- Explore FTA Alternatives: Goods from countries with established Free Trade Agreements (like the USMCA partners) often have specific carve-outs, though even those are being squeezed by new "rule of origin" requirements.
The bottom line? The question isn't whether the tariffs are still there—it's whether you've adjusted your budget to account for the fact that they've become a permanent fixture of the American economy.