It is fair to say as a starting point that it is kind of "that simple" that a tariff is a direct tax and that was (and still is) something that some truly awful people from the last administration continue to argue. Also at a starting point is the fact that the US and every country in the world has always maintained some system of tariffs (and quotas and other tools) to work to address issues you highlight. How we came to some issues, how to view and measure trade overall in a society, what makes sense as tools, etc... -- countries will debate probably until the end of time. But tariffs on the movement of goods that are utilized in many different ways in this country (not just consumer goods - a huge chunk of what we import is used in further manufacturing here) -- it is a tax.

It is not "the" reason for current supply chain chaos and spiraling inflation. It is "a" factor and I was really just pointing out how interesting it always is who and how we choose to recognize certain things.