When US President Donald Trump raises punitive tariffs and thus influences world trade, the effects also appear at the port of Hamburg. “The tariffs of the US government are a deep blow to the German and European economy”Angela Titzrath, head of Hamburg harbor and Logistik AG (HHLA) complains.
But also in the port of the Hanseatic city, the cross -border action is cashed in. 1.93 billion euros tariffs and 17.8 billion euros in import taxes were taken in the third largest port in Europe in 2022. But what exactly does that mean? What are tariffs and who do you go to?
What are tariffs actually?
Financial tariffs, protection tariffs, quantity tariffs, specific tariffs or value tariffs are taxes that must be paid when crossing a customs limit. The lexicon of the economy describes tariffs as “Taxes to the state for goods introduced”. Financial tariffs are used to procure income for the state. Protective tariffs, on the other hand, should protect domestic providers from foreign competition. These tariffs can be levied on any goods and goods – from car or cell phone to a denim jacket or whiskey. “Fellowship” is a political concept that does not exist legally.
A distinction is also made between import and export tariffs. Interfiction duties are also suitable as protective tariffs to reduce the import of certain goods. Anyone who imposes tariffs speaks of protective tariffs that protect their own economy or security. When tariffs are reduced, increasing prices are usually to be countered on the domestic market. On the other hand, there are export tariffs that are raised by states from which the goods and goods are exported.
Why are tariffs collected?
Customs are therefore levies that may arise when importing and exporting goods and goods between countries in world trade. With them, governments can make imported goods more expensive and thus improve the competitiveness of domestic products compared to foreign ones. Customs are therefore not only a source of income for the state, but also a price regulator.
The members of the European Union do not raise tariffs among themselves – with exceptions such as cigarettes or alcohol – but on imports from third countries. The EU countries manage these tariffs that flow into the EU budget. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, the volume in Germany is regularly almost six billion euros per year.
Imports of non-EU countries are part of the European Union’s trade policy. In response to the customs package from the USA, the EU, as the first step, has announced extracute from 10 to 50 percent on American products such as bourbon whiskey, jeans, motorcycles, boats, orange juice, soy, peanut butter and numerous other US goods.
Who pays tariffs and who do they use?
According to economists, consumers ultimately pay the higher tariffs because they are passed on to end customers in the form of rising prices. If this does not succeed in the company, their profits are falling. In both cases, tariffs can cost jobs and growth.
The winners of customs mining and globalization have been western corporations for years. You can produce cheaper in third countries. Many industries have therefore shifted their production from the USA and the EU in low -wage countries such as China. As a result, consumers were also able to shop cheaper.
How high are tariffs at goods import into the EU?
The customs set when importing auto parts into the EU is 3.5 to 4.5 percent, and 10 percent for cars is charged. The tariffs in textile clothing are 8 to 12 percent, but 4 percent for clothing made of leather. For image prints, books, photos, CDs, CD players or DVDs, 0 percent tariffs are collected-including laptops, notebooks, tablet PCs, mobile phones and smartphones. However, 1.7 percent are due for a DVD player.
Sources: Customs, production, NDR, Federal Center for Political Education, the Lexicon of the Economy: Federal Center for Political Education, “Daily show”Federal Ministry of Finance, Analysis “Daily show”BBC, BR24, General Colleus, Deutschlandfunk
