A
tariff designed to make
imports more
expensive than domestically produced products. That is, a tariff barrier is a tax imposed upon imports to protect local industries and companies. Critics, notably the
WTO, have criticized tariff barriers because they believe they discourage international trade and because they may have net negative effects on the
economy in the long run. However, proponents of tariff barriers argue that they can force countries to develop their own domestic industries. See also:
Import substitution industrialization,
Free trade.