Georgia paid over $20B in Trump tariffs, report estimates
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Georgia businesses have paid some of the nation's highest tariff costs under President Trump's trade actions since the start of 2025.
Why it matters: Local industries dictate how heavily communities have been hit, from Georgia's auto manufacturing industry to Virginia's aerospace sector.
Zoom in: Georgia has been among the states hit hardest relative to its size: $20.1 billion in Trump tariffs through June, equivalent to about $4,771 per household.
- Cars and trucks led the impact, with an estimated $2.5 billion in additional tariffs, followed by steel and other metals.
Context: Georgia public companies that have requested or received $1.5 billion in tariff refunds after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision include Home Depot ($730 million), UPS ($500 million) and Carter's ($132 million), the AJC reports.
Zoom out: States bear wildly different estimated tariff burdens since the second Trump term started, from California's $62.8 billion share to Wyoming's $107 million.
By the numbers: California has absorbed the biggest chunk of the overall $342 billion estimated tab, according to National Taxpayers Union Foundation data.
- Michigan's $23.2 billion tab is smaller, but amounts to an estimated equivalent of $5,619 per household, the highest in the nation.
Between the lines: The primary industries driving states' tariff costs offer a glimpse into local economies.
- Vehicles dominate tariffs in Michigan, while auto parts lead in neighboring Indiana and Ohio.
- In Florida, food — think imported winter produce — is the biggest tariff-hit category.
Yes, but: The Supreme Court struck down Trump's sweeping emergency-power tariffs in February, and importers are now seeking refunds for billions of dollars in duties already paid.
- The data reflect tariffs collected through June 2026, including some costs that could ultimately be refunded, even as the administration explores alternative tariff approaches.
The fine print: Axios analyzed state tariff estimates from Trade Partnership Worldwide, compiled by the National Taxpayers Union Foundation. Per-household equivalents use Census Bureau American Community Survey data.
Reality check: There's no process for consumers who paid higher prices because of the tariffs to request refunds.
What we're watching: Trump recently announced 50% tariffs on imports from Canada, whose Prime Minister Mark Carney has vowed to retaliate.
- Canada is Georgia's top global market, the AJC reports, and the state imports $6.5 billion of the country's exports.
The bottom line: Trump's tariffs are international. Their economic impact is local.