Customs tariffs are taxes on goods crossing international borders. They vary by country and are usually a percentage of the declared value of the commodity. Goods are inspected and fees collected by customs officials. Harmonized tariff tables are used to determine taxes, and tariffs can be for imports or exports. They can be imposed for political reasons, such as protecting domestic assets from foreign competition, but can have economic impacts on countries.
A customs tariff is a government-assessed tax on goods that are moved through an international border crossing or port. Customs tariffs generally do not apply to domestic goods. The fee charged for a customs tariff varies from country to country. While customs tariffs usually vary for each commodity, most tariffs are assessed as a percentage of the overall declared value of the commodity.
Goods crossing international borders are usually subject to customs inspections. When goods arrive at a port or border crossing, usually a customs official examines them. He or she then collects any applicable customs fees. Goods cannot be transported through a port or border crossing until the customs tariff has been paid. Some individuals try to avoid paying tariffs by illegally smuggling goods across international borders.
Most countries use harmonized tariff tables to determine the amount of taxes that will be assessed on imported products. A commonly used standard is the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, maintained by the World Customs Organization. This system is internationally standardized and uses names and numbers to classify traded products. When assessing the amount of a foreign tariff rate, it is necessary to review the country-specific tariff guidelines.
A customs tariff can include an import tariff and an export tariff. An import tariff is a tax levied on products or goods entering a country while an export tariff is a tax levied on products or goods leaving the country. Export tariffs are generally assessed less often than import tariffs.
Countries may impose customs tariffs for political reasons. One of the main reasons is to protect domestic assets from foreign competition. For example, if a country believes a product is experiencing significant foreign competition, the country can impose a customs tariff on any imported version of the product. The tariff can help limit the number of imported products brought into a country from other nations. As a result, the domestic product may become cheaper and more likely to be bought by consumers.
Customs tariffs can have economic impacts on countries. Countries on which tariffs are imposed may experience job losses if their firms are no longer able to compete in foreign markets. On the other hand, domestic producers in a country that imposes a tariff can benefit from reduced competition. In this scenario, prices and sales could also increase. While this may seem beneficial to the country imposing the tariffs, domestic consumers may end up paying higher prices.
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