More or Less Numbers of the year 2025
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Dec 27, 2025 
Thomas Sampson, an economist from the London School of Economics, dives into the intricacies of US tariffs, highlighting their peak at 28% and the calculations behind them. Meanwhile, Hannah Ritchie reveals that China has surpassed one terawatt of solar capacity, rivaling India's electricity output. She discusses the rapid deployment of solar energy amidst challenges in meeting electricity demands. Astrophysicist Catherine Haymans introduces the intriguing 3I Atlas, the third interstellar object, revealing its age of over 7 billion years and its cosmic origins.
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Tariff Averages Depend On How You Measure
- The US average tariff rate peaked at 28% after April's announcements but later fell as policies changed and not all tariffs were implemented.
- Using revenue-collected data gives a lower effective average (about 9.8% by July) because imports and collections adjusted to new tariffs.
Weights And Behaviour Change Alter Tariff Impact
- Average tariff calculations weight thousands of product-country tariffs by past import shares, so results depend on the weighting method.
- Behavioural changes and delayed collections mean the “applied” economic burden can be much lower than headline rates.
China Hits One Terawatt Of Solar
- China surpassed one trillion watts (one terawatt) of installed solar, producing about 1,800 TWh annually — nearly India's total electricity use.
- Rapid deployment and falling costs show China is now the dominant driver of global solar expansion, though coal still dominates its mix.