On February 2, 2025, President Donald Trump acknowledged that his new tariffs might cause “some pain” after his administration announced additional duties on imports from Canada, Mexico and China. Those announced rates are historical, not a guide to what applies today: on February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court invalidated the challenged tariff actions imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), and the administration said it would pursue other legal authorities.
What tariffs did the administration announce in February 2025?
On February 1, 2025, the White House announced additional tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China, including a separate rate for Canadian energy resources. The administration said it was acting under emergency powers in response to illegal migration and drugs, including fentanyl. Those were the administration’s stated reasons, not findings that settle the underlying allegations.
| Imports named in the announcement | Announced additional tariff | Scope and source |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 25% | Rate announced by the White House on February 1, 2025; not a current rate schedule. |
| Mexico | 25% | Rate announced by the White House on February 1, 2025; not a current rate schedule. |
| China | 10% | Rate announced by the White House on February 1, 2025; not a current rate schedule. |
| Canadian energy resources | 10% | Separate rate announced by the White House on February 1, 2025; not a current rate schedule. |
The figures describe the additional rates in that announcement. They should not be read as a complete account of every tariff, exemption or product-specific rule that might have applied even at the time.
What did Trump mean by “some pain”?
On February 2, Trump wrote on social media: “WILL THERE BE SOME PAIN? YES, MAYBE (AND MAYBE NOT!). BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID.” In comments to reporters that day, he also said, “We may have in the short term, a little pain, and people understand that.” The Associated Press reported both statements during the tariff announcement’s news cycle.
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The remarks acknowledged a possibility of short-term costs; they did not specify how large those costs would be, which households or products would be affected, or how long effects might last.
Who pays a tariff, and how can it affect household costs?
A tariff is a tax on imported goods. The U.S. importer pays the duty to the government. A foreign exporter does not automatically pay it simply because its goods are subject to a tariff.
After paying the duty, an importer may absorb some cost, seek a different supplier, or pass some of the expense to customers. Domestic producers may also respond to reduced competition from imports. The outcome depends on the product, suppliers, market conditions and business decisions: a tariff rate does not translate mechanically into the same percentage increase at checkout.
At the time, news coverage identified higher consumer prices, supply-chain disruption and retaliation by trading partners as risks. Those were concerns and projections, not evidence that every affected product rose in price by the tariff rate.
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How should readers interpret estimates of the cost to households?
A 2024 Peterson Institute for International Economics brief by Kimberly Clausing and Mary E. Lovely estimated an annual cost of $1,700 for a typical middle-income household under the tariff proposals analyzed in that brief. That is a model-based estimate tied to those proposals and assumptions. It is not a measurement of what households paid because of the February 2025 tariffs.
When comparing an economic claim with what happened later, check whether its number is an observed result or a forecast, the date and policy version it concerns, and the products and households included. A figure based on proposed tariffs should not be presented as the realized cost of a later policy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed after the announcement?
On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 against the challenged use of IEEPA to impose tariffs. The Associated Press reported that the decision covered the IEEPA measures imposed on Canada, Mexico and China as well as the reciprocal tariffs. The ruling changed the legal status of those challenged actions; it does not, by itself, establish the rate currently applicable to a particular import.
The administration said it would use other legal authorities, including a temporary tariff under Section 122. The Associated Press described that authority’s tariff as limited to 150 days unless Congress extended it. This later policy development is another reason not to treat the February 2025 announcement—or a report from February 2026—as a current product-by-product tariff schedule.
How can an importer check the rate that applies now?
The applicable duty depends on the product’s classification and origin, the legal authority in force, any relevant trade agreement or exemption, and subsequent government or court action. For an actual shipment, consult current U.S. Customs and Border Protection tariff information and applicable Federal Register notices; use the product classification and origin details, and confirm any exemption or effective date. The February 2025 country-level rates alone cannot answer that question.
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