Tariff Survival Strategies for Small Businesses WHAT IS A TARIFF?   A tariff is a tax on the import of goods between countries as a form of foreign trade regulation. The simple explanation of the goals behind tariffs are: 1. Raise revenue 2. Protect domestic industries by increasing the price of imported goods, which provides domestic products with a price advantage. 3. Address unfair practices, such as when the exporter is subsidized by their government, thus artificially lowering the cost of production.   There are three primary methods of assessing tariffs: 1. Ad valorem – a percentage of the value of the import 2. Specific – a fixed amount on each imported...