CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – University of Virginia economics professor Dr. Ed Burton expressed concerns this week about the impact of new tariffs announced by the Trump administration, calling them a disguised tax on Americans. On Morning News Burton said the 15% tariff on Japanese vehicles will significantly raise prices. “That typical Toyota costs about $50,000, so now they’ll cost $57,000,” he said. “Tariffs aren’t paid by the Japanese, they’re paid by Americans.” 

Burton explained that even U.S. manufactured vehicles will become more expensive due to tariffs on imported parts. “It’s not clear what an American car manufactured in America is,” he said. “The world has a global supply network… the net effect of all of this is to essentially raise a whole lot of prices,” He compared tariffs to a sales tax and warned of broader economic consequences. “Tariffs aren’t good for the country that imposes them,” Burton added. 

Beyond trade policy, Burton discussed rising government debt and looming cuts to local school budgets. “We cannot continue to run 6% deficits,” he said, tying the federal deficit to high interest rates. He also emphasized the need to prioritize funding for younger students, saying, “Pre-Kindergarten to 6th grade is where I’d put it… that’s where the battle, in my opinion, is won or lost.” 

Listen to the full conversation here: