This is not accurate, and you should not explain it this way. Under this example, China would be paying, but only through a loss in profits. No money would be paid to the US in that example. The US Treasury, however, is ACTUALLY receiving money from China for the sale of each item that has a tariff. I’m not sure how it occurs, but China must be making a payment to the US treasury when it exports the item because the US Treasury is receiving BILLIONS of dollars from them.
Ok. So when China wants to sell some lead-based crap in the US, then when they export it they also write a check (so to speak) to the treasury for 10% (or whatever the tariff is). Hence they pay for it!