For many people, the issue of taxes and Taxes It is something they know that they pay, but of which they do not know their true functioning and purpose. Beyond local charges, there are fiscal tools that countries use to protect their economies and regulate commercial exchange with other nations. A key example of these measures are duty.
In the context of international tradethe duty They have taken prominence from the policies promoted by the president of the United States, Donald Trump. With the idea of strengthening the internal economy, Trump defended the imposition of duty as a strategy to curb mass imports and reactivate key sectors such as the steel and agriculture industry.
However, the application of duty Not only affects exporting countries (those that send products) to the United States, but also directly impacts US consumers, who face increases in essential products prices. Today this issue is again a central part of Trump’s political discourse, who says he will resume the duty To protect the economy and “make America big”
Beyond the economic arguments, Trump uses the duty As a pressure tool and punishment towards nations that, according to their vision, affect the interests of the United States. Thus, he accuses Mexico of not stopping drug trafficking and illegal immigration, while pointing to Canada and China for fentanyl traffic.
However, in this note the approach will be strictly economic to clearly explain what the dutyhow they work and why they are so relevant in commercial strategies.
What are tariffs and what do they mean?
The duty They are a tax which applies to the goods and services that enter a country from abroad. According to Exportouits main objective is to regulate foreign trade, protect national production and generate fiscal income for the State.
There are different types of tariffs, such as AD VALEEM (which are calculated as a percentage on the value of the merchandise) and the specific ones (which are set as a fixed amount per unit of product). The imposition of a tariff causes imported products to be more expensive, thus encouraging the consumption of local products.
In the case of Donald Trump, the duty They are being a key piece of their commercial policy under the premise that the only true beneficiaries of the Low tariffs either Free Trade Agreements They are the exporting countries, those that the United States buys large volumes of goods.
Therefore, it is imposing tariffs on strategic products such as iron, steel and several agricultural products, with the intention of balance the trade balance and foster internal production.
Why does Trump defend tariffs as a key to protecting the US economy?
Within their public statements, Donald Trump has argued that the application of duty It is essential to correct the commercial deficits and recover industrial jobs that, as he states, were lost due to the unfair competition of other countries.
During his previous administration, he implemented duty mainly directed to Chinawith the argument of stopping practices that he considered unfair and harmful to the American industry.
However, in his current mandate, Trump has expanded his position, noting that the duty They should apply to practically all countries with which USA maintains commercial relations, except for specific cases, such as Argentinawith whom I would be willing to negotiate a free trade agreement.
According to the World Trade Organization (WTO)the duty They must be applied respecting international agreements to avoid discriminatory practices and ensure equitable conditions among nations. Despite this, Trump justifies his decisions ensuring that these measures are necessary to protect the interests of USA in front of foreign policies that qualifies as unfair and harmful.
As it stands out Customs City, the duty Not only do governments and producers impact, but also the final consumerwho ends up assuming part of the cost through higher prices in goods and services. Despite this negative effect, Trump continues to defend the duty as an indispensable tool to strengthen local economyprioritize US employment and reactivate strategic sectors.
In addition, the president recognizes before the citizens who, Although price increase may be difficult for the consumer in the short term, he argues that the sacrifice is necessary “For the common good” and to ensure long -term prosperity.
Why are tariffs important?
The duty They are a fundamental tool for governments that seek to protect their internal production against foreign competition. They allow local industries to have a margin of advantage in the market, by more expensive imported products and facilitate national goods more competitive.
In addition to the protection of strategic sectors, tariffs generate fiscal income that can be used to finance public programs. However, its application must be careful, since excessive or disproportionate use can trigger commercial reprisals, affect diplomatic relations and make basic products more.
In the case of Guatemala, Trump’s tariff policy is also about to suffer collateral effects. The countries that export to the United States, such as Guatemala, are being forced to seek strategies to maintain their competitiveness and adapt to new market conditions.
The duty They are more than a simple tax; They are an economic strategy that can influence global trade, impact prices, modify relations between countries and become, as in the case of Trump, a political flag with which it is promised to protect the national economy, although the results are not always as positive as expected.