as in levies
a payment that must be made to the government in order to import or export certain goods
The Townshend Acts, which imposed a tariff on many goods imported to North America, indirectly led to the American Revolution.
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Recent Examples of tariffs
Berating foreign leaders who complained about his tariffs, continuing with threats to take over Greenland and accusing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer of cowardice are just a few examples that don’t create feelings of warmth, friendship and respect.
—
Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Porsche is not having the best time of things after betting too heavily on EVs, which looks even worse in the vital US market thanks to Trump’s tariffs.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Americans have been dealing with record-high beef prices, in part due to Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Canada’s prime minister has taken a hard line, saying a US liquor import ban could be lifted only if Washington ended tariffs on key Canadian products.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Now, Europe really had some modest tariffs, but China is the most advantaged of all the locations.
—Jamie Lincoln Kitman, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
The deal comes as the automakers face mounting pressure to restructure business portfolios amid slowing growth, rising costs and intensifying margin pressure from tariffs and geopolitical disruption.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
As of March, however, the impact of tariffs was relatively muted in the latest CPI report.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
In his first attempt to impose global tariffs, the president last year invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), using the law to declare America’s longstanding trade deficit a national emergency and to impose double-digit worldwide taxes on imports to combat it.
—Mae Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Porsche is not having the best time of things after betting too heavily on EVs, which looks even worse in the vital US market thanks to Trump’s tariffs.
—ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Americans have been dealing with record-high beef prices, in part due to Trump’s tariffs on Brazil, a major beef exporter.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Canada’s prime minister has taken a hard line, saying a US liquor import ban could be lifted only if Washington ended tariffs on key Canadian products.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
Now, Europe really had some modest tariffs, but China is the most advantaged of all the locations.
—Jamie Lincoln Kitman, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
The deal comes as the automakers face mounting pressure to restructure business portfolios amid slowing growth, rising costs and intensifying margin pressure from tariffs and geopolitical disruption.
—Anniek Bao, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2026
As of March, however, the impact of tariffs was relatively muted in the latest CPI report.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Apr. 2026
In his first attempt to impose global tariffs, the president last year invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), using the law to declare America’s longstanding trade deficit a national emergency and to impose double-digit worldwide taxes on imports to combat it.
—Mae Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tariffs
Noun
-
Neighboring Malaysia has also expressed caution about plans to impose levies on the strait, though didn’t reject the idea outright.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
If successful, a judgment against you can ultimately lead to wage garnishment or bank account levies, depending on your state laws.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The paramilitary guard will take over security duties currently performed by conventional military forces.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Mickey Mouse was hugely popular in Germany (including personally with Hitler), but Germany imposed hefty duties on the import of foreign films after the Nazis came to power, bringing Mickey Mouse’s broad viewership to a halt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tariffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tariffs. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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