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Index/Topics/Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930

Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930

The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 and its impact on international trade and unemployment.

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Jan 11, 2026
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Did the unemoloyment rate in the early 1930s dip to around 9 and then to 6 and then up after the tarrifs

The short answer is: no—there is no robust evidence that U.S. unemployment in the early 1930s dipped to “around 9” then to “6” before rising again after tariffs; instead, accepted historical series sh...

Feb 6, 2026

How have tariff wars historically affected U.S. GDP and employment since Smoot‑Hawley?

Tariff wars beginning with the Tariff of 1930 coincided with a collapse in GDP and a surge in unemployment, and they triggered widespread retaliation that reshaped trade patterns; historians and econo...