Trump’s trade tariffs brought in a record $16.3 billion in April, helping slow the pace of U.S. deficit growth even as overall federal spending continues to outpace revenue. A new temporary deal with China may reduce that revenue in the months ahead.
Key Facts:
- Tariff revenue hit a record $16.3 billion in April 2025, up from $8.2 billion in March.
- Total customs duties from October 2024 to April 2025 reached $59.2 billion.
- The federal government posted a $258 billion surplus in April 2025, a 23% increase from April 2024.
- The FY 2025 federal deficit stands at $1.049 trillion as of April 30, up 22.7% from the same point in FY 2024.
- The U.S. and China agreed to temporarily reduce tariffs, lowering U.S. duties from 145% to 30% for 90 days.
The Rest of The Story:
Revenue from tariffs hit a record high of more than $16 billion in April, helping to reduce the pace of the U.S. budget deficit accumulation, the Treasury Department said on Monday.
Customs duties totaled $16.3 billion last month, nearly double the $8.2 billion brought in for March as President Donald Trump’s sweeping protective tariffs took effect.
Trump slapped at least 10% on imports from certain countries and ramped up a trade war with China by hitting the communist nation with as much as 145% tariffs on goods.
Year-to-date revenue — from October 2024 through April 2025 — hit $59.2 billion and is up significantly from the $44.1 billion collected over the same period in FY 2024.
The April receipts saw the federal government post a $258 billion budget surplus for April, up 23% from a year earlier – $850.2 billion in receipts and $591.8 billion in outlays.
The cumulative federal deficit for FY 2025 through April 30 was $1.049 trillion, which is 22.7% higher than the $855 billion deficit at the same point in FY 2024.
While April’s record-high revenues from tariffs didn’t reduce the deficit, it helped ease the rate at which the deficit was accumulating.
From October 2024 through April 2025, the federal government collected $3.11 trillion in revenue and outlays of $4.159 trillion which were both records, though the deficit itself was not.
The largest sources of revenue were individual income taxes ($1.681 trillion), social insurance and retirement contributions ($1.018 trillion), and corporate income taxes ($255.2 billion), followed by customs duties ($59.2 billion), excise taxes ($59.4 billion), estate and gift taxes ($16.6 billion), and miscellaneous receipts ($21.0 billion).
That new revenue, however, is likely to drop off.
The U.S. and China over the weekend reached a deal to temporarily ease their steep tariffs on each other, with the U.S. cutting its 145% tariffs to 30% for the next 90 days, while Chinese duties on U.S. imports will fall to 10% from 125%.
In terms of interest on the public debt, the government paid $101.65 billion in gross interest expenses in April, and $684.1 billion in FY 2025 Year-to-Date.
US Treasury Shocks With Second Biggest Budget Surplus In History Thanks To Record Tariff Revenues https://t.co/2C4Ux7r1Dq
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) May 13, 2025
Commentary:
When Trump imposed tariffs, the media and Democrats warned it would wreck the economy.
They were wrong.
The data shows a huge boost in customs revenue that helped deliver a $258 billion surplus in a single month.
That kind of impact doesn’t come from guesswork—it comes from leadership and bold policy.
For years, experts claimed tariffs would backfire and hurt the American consumer.
Instead, we’re seeing fiscal gains and trade leverage, not economic chaos.
The same people who said we’d face a recession are now watching as America negotiates trade deals from a position of strength.
This temporary tariff easing with China is a strategic step.
If China fails to hold up its end of the deal, the tariffs can go right back up—America holds the cards now.
The Bottom Line:
Trump’s tariff strategy has proven effective in generating revenue and slowing deficit growth.
April’s record-breaking customs duties show how trade policy can be used to America’s advantage.
While spending still outpaces revenue, these results offer hope that stronger deals and firmer enforcement can reshape U.S. finances.
The results back up what the experts refused to see.
Read Next
– New Study Shows GOP Controlled House and Senate Are Totally Worthless, Worst in 70 Years
– Deadly Pest Threat Forces U.S. to Halt Mexican Livestock Imports
– UK to Expel Migrants for Any Crime Under Explosive New Crackdown
– America’s Largest Power Grid Operator Warns Blackouts Could Hit Millions This Summer billion in gross interest expenses in April, and $684.1 billion in FY 2025 Year-to-Date.