A consumption tax on Americans is brewing. Tariffs are the dry run.
Preview:
Tariffs are framed as an early form of broad consumption taxation, with the argument that the United States will likely need even more of that kind of tax as entitlement costs and federal debt continue to grow. The column connects trade policy to a larger fiscal reckoning, suggesting that Americans who have been largely insulated from income taxes may eventually be asked to shoulder more of the burden through taxes on what they buy rather than what they earn.
Originally published: February 12, 2026
Author: Mitch Daniels
Position: President Emeritus
Institution: Purdue University
Published by: The Washington Post