Tariffs Benefit Washington Influence Peddlers, Not Working Class

New tariffs have generated billions in revenue, but the main beneficiaries appear to be elite lawyers and lobbyists, not the working class.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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For decades, politicians have touted tariffs as a way to help the working class, but a new report suggests the main beneficiaries of the recent surge in tariff revenue are actually Washington influence peddlers. The U.S. collected $288.5 billion in tariff revenue last year, up from $98.3 billion in 2024, thanks to new levies imposed by the Trump administration. These tariffs, designed by elite lawyers in D.C. and implemented with highly technical language, have presented a lucrative opportunity for lobbyists to charge large corporations exorbitant rates to seek relief and other carveouts.

Why it matters

The findings challenge the longstanding narrative that tariffs protect American jobs and benefit the working class. Instead, they suggest the tariffs have primarily enriched a class of well-connected Washington insiders, raising questions about whose interests are truly being served by trade wars.

The details

The report found that the new tariffs, which were designed using complex legal and technical language, have allowed lobbyists to charge large corporations high fees to help them navigate the system and secure exemptions or other favorable treatment. This has resulted in a windfall for the influence peddling industry in Washington, while the working class has seen little tangible benefit.

  • The U.S. collected $288.5 billion in tariff revenue in 2025.
  • Tariff revenue was $98.3 billion in 2024, before the new levies were imposed.

The players

Trump administration

The Trump administration imposed a barrage of new tariffs that have generated a surge in tariff revenue.

Washington influence peddlers

Elite lawyers and lobbyists in Washington have capitalized on the complex tariff system to charge large corporations exorbitant rates for help navigating the system and securing exemptions or other favorable treatment.

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The takeaway

The findings suggest that the narrative of tariffs protecting American jobs and benefiting the working class is misguided, and that the primary beneficiaries of trade wars are actually a class of well-connected Washington insiders. This raises important questions about whose interests are truly being served by these policies.