Photo: Alamy
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s monthly statement for April 2025 has revealed winning numbers for President Donald Trump’s tariff system, proving once again that the white noise of critics doesn’t hold a candle to cold, hard results.
According to the Treasury’s report, the United States took in around $16 billion in customs duties for the month of April, following the implementation of President Trump’s reciprocal tariff system, which included a 10 percent baseline tariff as a starting point.
To compare, in March, customs duties for the United States were $8 billion, so the newest numbers from the Treasury indicate a rapid uptick in revenue for America and provide some relief to the federal budget deficit amid a $258 billion budget surplus.
This is contrasted against a $210 billion surplus in April 2024, with just $6 billion in customs duties collected during the Biden administration.
These latest stats also come amid trade negotiations with China, as President Trump makes strong moves to level the playing field in trade.
On Monday, both countries agreed to ease tariffs and retaliation as discussions continue, while mutually agreeing to lower tariffs by 115 percent on each side by Wednesday, May 14, via the White House. It is unclear how this may affect the customs duties that will be taken in this month
Last week, on the heels of announcing a massive trade deal with the United Kingdom, President Trump reminded the American media that the United States has been “ripped off” for years on trade. His aim throughout these tariff negotiations was simply to restore “fair deals” with trade partners across the board.
Regardless of ongoing negotiations, the Treasury Department’s report seems to indicate favorable winds for Trump’s economy. It parallels new data from the Consumer Price Index on Tuesday, indicating inflation had cooled to its lowest level since 2021.
