noun / verb

tariff

TAR-if/ˈtærɪf/

An officially prescribed schedule of charges.

The official applies the tariff when assessing charges on imported goods.

A customs official collects a government levy on imported cargo at an international border, assessing the goods rather than charging the vehicle for passage.

Etymology

tariffArabicnotification; inventory of fees

The Arabic noun connected making information known with an inventory of fees to be paid. A tariff was an official table of customs charges, linking the published rates to the tax itself.

In context

CNN1:21

He's literally got 14 pages of different goods that he's now imposing this 50% tariff on, which is a tax on Americans who buy goods from Canada.

'Surprisingly big deal': Economist on Trump's new 50% Canada tariffs

More examples

The carrier’s tariff lists separate charges for storage and delivery.
Importers consult the customs tariff to calculate duties on their goods.
The government tariffs imported steel to protect domestic producers.

Forms

tariff · tariffs · tariffed · tariffing

Similar words

schedule: Can list charges, but also times or other information.
rate: Usually names one charge rather than an official schedule.