From Rome to Trump: The story behind tariffs

Donald Trump famously described tariffs as "beautiful," framing them as a powerful tool to protect American industries and punish unfair trade. Throughout his presidency, in his past tenure and even in the present, he used tariffs aggressively—especially against China—arguing they would bring jobs back to the U.S. and rebalance trade. Critics called it a trade war; Trump called it smart business. In his own words: "I am a Tariff Man. When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so."

Now let us see what are tariffs, a brief history, the epistemology of the word and types of tariffs.

What are Tariffs

A tariff is a duty (a tax) imposed by a national government, customs territory, or supranational union on imports (or, exceptionally, exports) of goods. Besides being a source of revenue, import duties can also be a form of regulation of foreign trade and policy that burden foreign products to encourage or safeguard domestic industry. 'Protective tariffs' are among the most widely used instruments of protectionism, along with import quotas and export quotas and other non-tariff barriers to trade.

History of Tariffs

The earliest tariffs date back to ancient civilizations. The Roman Empire levied portoria, taxes on goods entering its territories, to fund infrastructure and military campaigns. Similarly, China's Han Dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE) imposed tariffs along the Silk Road to control trade and generate state revenue. In medieval Europe, feudal lords and emerging nation-states taxed merchants crossing their borders, fostering early protectionist policies.

During the age of mercantilism, European powers like Britain, France, and Spain used tariffs to accumulate wealth, particularly gold and silver. High import duties discouraged foreign goods while exports were encouraged. Colonies were forced to trade exclusively with their mother countries under restrictive systems like Britain's Navigation Acts (1651), which imposed heavy tariffs on rivals.

The Industrial Revolution shifted tariff policies. Britain, as the world's leading industrial power, embraced free trade, repealing the Corn Laws (1846) to allow cheap grain imports. Meanwhile, the U.S. relied on tariffs as its primary federal revenue source, sparking political battles—such as the Tariff of Abominations (1828), which angered Southern agricultural states. After the Civil War, the U.S. raised tariffs further to shield its growing industries.

The early 1900s saw extreme protectionism. The U.S. Smoot-Hawley Tariff (1930) raised duties on thousands of imports, worsening the Great Depression as other nations retaliated. Post-WWII, countries sought cooperation, leading to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT, 1947), which reduced tariffs globally. This later evolved into the World Trade Organization (WTO, 1995), promoting free trade.

While globalization lowered tariffs, they remain contentious. The U.S.-China trade war (2018–2020) saw both nations impose billions in retaliatory tariffs. Brexit revived debates over the UK's trade independence. Today, tariffs are still used to protect industries, punish unfair trade practices, or advance geopolitical goals.

From ancient taxes to modern trade wars, tariffs continue to influence economies worldwide, balancing between protectionism and free-market ideals.

Epistemology of the word "Tariffs"

The English term tariff derives from the French: tarif, lit. 'set price' which is itself a descendant of the Italian: tariffa, lit. 'mandated price; schedule of taxes and customs' which derives from Medieval Latin: tariffe, lit. 'set price'.

 Objectives of tariffs

Tariffs may be levied either to raise revenue or to protect domestic industries, but a tariff designed primarily to raise revenue also may exercise a strong protective influence, while a tariff levied primarily for protection may yield revenue. Gottfried von Haberler in The Theory of International Trade (1937) suggested that the best way to distinguish between revenue duties and protective duties (disregarding the motives of the legislators) is to compare their effects on domestic versus foreign producers.

Types of Tariffs

There are several types of tariffs that a government can choose from. Each type of tariff has its own benefit and purpose.

One law, statement, or standard is not always the best solution for every situation, so it must be modified to produce the most desirable result. So, let's look at the different types of tariffs.

Ad Valorem       

An ad valorem tariff is calculated based on the value of the good. Example: A good is worth $100 and the Tariff is 10%, the importer has to pay $10. If it is worth $150, they pay $15.

Specific With a specific tariff the value of an item does not matter. Instead, it is directly imposed on the item much like a per-unit tax. Example: The tariff for 1 pound of fish is $0.23. For each pound imported, the importer pays $0.23.

Compound        

A compound tariff is a combination of an ad valorem tariff and a specific tariff. The tariff that the item will be subject to is the tariff that brings in more revenue. Example: The tariff on chocolate is either $2 per pound or 17% of its value, depending on which brings in more revenue.

Mixed  

A mixed tariff is also a combination of an ad valorem tariff and a specific tariff, only a mixed tariff applies both simultaneously. Example The tariff on chocolate is $10 per pound and 3% of its value on top of that.

Governments choose tariff types based on their economic goals—whether to raise revenue, protect domestic industries, or respond to foreign trade policies. While tariffs can benefit local businesses, they may also increase consumer prices and trigger trade conflicts. Understanding these variations helps in analyzing trade policies and their global impacts.