Tariffs are taxes imposed by a government on goods and services imported from other countries. Their main functions are:

• Protect domestic industries by making imported goods more expensive, encouraging consumers to buy domestically produced products.
• Raise government revenue from the taxes collected on imports.
• Address unfair trade practices such as dumping (selling goods below cost) or foreign subsidies that harm local producers.
• Serve as a political or diplomatic tool to pressure other countries during trade negotiations or to retaliate against undesirable policies.
• Support infant or emerging industries by shielding them from international competition until they can become competitive.

However, tariffs often lead to higher prices for consumers, can provoke retaliatory tariffs from other countries, and may increase production costs for domestic industries relying on imported materials. In sum, tariffs work by increasing the cost of imports, thereby protecting or promoting local industries, generating government income, and influencing international trade dynamics.