Tariffs have been a part of the American fabric since 1789. President Trump has placed tariffs at the center of todays debate ...

The Tariff Act of 1789 listed specific tariff rates on dozens and dozens of products: cheese, 4 cents per pound; boots, fifty cents per pair; coffee, two and a half cents per pound.

In the early years of the United States, tariffs served as the primary source of federal revenue. The Tariff Act of 1789 was among the first laws passed by Congress, aimed at promoting trade and ...