protective tariff: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Economic, Political
Quick answer
What does “protective tariff” mean?
A tax imposed by a government on imported goods to make them more expensive, thereby protecting domestic industries from foreign competition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tax imposed by a government on imported goods to make them more expensive, thereby protecting domestic industries from foreign competition.
A specific type of trade barrier designed to shield a country's manufacturers, producers, and workers from international market forces. It is often part of a broader policy of economic nationalism or import substitution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The concept and term are identical in both economic and political discourse.
Connotations
Associated with debates on free trade vs. managed trade, economic sovereignty, and industrial policy in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in US political discourse due to its historical role in American economic development (e.g., the Tariff of Abominations).
Grammar
How to Use “protective tariff” in a Sentence
A protective tariff on NThe government imposed a protective tariffProtective tariffs were designed to VVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “protective tariff” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government decided to protect the fledgling industry by tariffing imported components heavily.
- They successfully tariffed foreign textiles to safeguard domestic mills.
American English
- Congress moved to tariff foreign steel in order to protect domestic jobs.
- The administration threatened to tariff all auto imports.
adverb
British English
- The goods were taxed protectively to give local firms an advantage.
- The market was managed protectively through high import duties.
American English
- They argued the industry needed to be shielded protectively from global competition.
- The law was designed to function protectively for another decade.
adjective
British English
- The protective-tariff regime was a cornerstone of their post-war industrial policy.
- They faced protective-tariff barriers when exporting to the continent.
American English
- The protective-tariff approach had significant bipartisan support in the 19th century.
- A protective-tariff bill was introduced in the Senate.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board discussed lobbying for a protective tariff to secure our market share against cheaper imports.
Academic
The Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 serves as a classic historical case study of counterproductive protective tariffs.
Everyday
Some politicians argue that a protective tariff on cars would save local factory jobs, while others say it would make cars more expensive.
Technical
The effective rate of protection for the widget industry, when accounting for tariffs on intermediate goods, exceeded the nominal protective tariff rate.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “protective tariff”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “protective tariff”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “protective tariff”
- Using 'protective' as a noun (e.g., 'a protective' instead of 'a protective tariff').
- Confusing it with a 'subsidy', which is a direct payment to a producer rather than a tax on imports.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A protective tariff is a specific policy tool. A trade war is a broader conflict between nations where multiple retaliatory tariffs and other trade barriers are imposed.
Primarily, the domestic producers and their employees in the protected industry benefit from reduced competition. The government may also gain revenue. Consumers and downstream industries that rely on imported inputs typically bear the cost through higher prices.
A protective tariff's main goal is to change trade flows and protect industry, often by being set very high. A revenue tariff's main goal is to raise money for the government and is typically set at a lower, less trade-disrupting rate.
While global trade rules (WTO) have reduced their prevalence, protective tariffs are still used, often under other names like 'anti-dumping duties' or 'safeguard measures'. They remain a contentious tool in economic policy.
A tax imposed by a government on imported goods to make them more expensive, thereby protecting domestic industries from foreign competition.
Protective tariff is usually formal, academic, economic, political in register.
Protective tariff: in British English it is pronounced /prəˈtɛktɪv ˈtærɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /prəˈtɛktɪv ˈtɛrəf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to] hide behind a tariff wall”
- “[to] be sheltered by tariffs”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PROTECTIVE parent shielding a child. A PROTECTIVE TARIFF is a tax that shields (protects) domestic businesses.
Conceptual Metaphor
ECONOMIC DEFENCE IS PHYSICAL PROTECTION (e.g., shield, wall, barrier, shelter).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary intended effect of a protective tariff?