Tariffs I Must-Know Vocabulary for Chinese Learners

Recently, there have been many discussions about tariffs (关税, guānshuì) between countries, especially between China and the United States.

If you're learning Chinese, picking up some real-world vocabulary related to tariffs can help you have deeper conversations with friends, classmates, and colleagues.

The Latest News

              

On Thursday, April 11, 2025, with approval from the State Council, China's Tariff Commission announced a significant policy change: tariffs on certain U.S. imports will be raised from 84% to 125%*

*This decision comes as a countermeasure after the United States announced on April 10 that it would increase tariffs on Chinese goods to 125%.

This move has already sparked widespread discussion and is expected to have a major impact on global trade, economic relations, and business strategies between the countries.

🤓 Scroll down to pick up some key Chinese words and phrases you can use to talk about this hot topic!

Tariff-Related Vocabulary

              

Let's start with the basics. A tariff (关税, guānshuì) is a tax imposed by a government on goods imported from other countries.

关税

guānshuì

tariff

Here's how to say "import" and "export" in Chinese:

进口

jìnkǒu

import

出口

chūkǒu

export‍‍‍

The government agency that checks goods at the border and collects tariffs is called customs (海关, hǎiguān).

海关

hǎiguān

customs

Tariffs often cause price increases for consumers, as businesses pass the extra cost onto buyers:

价格上涨

jiàgé shàngzhǎng

price increase

When countries impose tariffs on each other's goods, it can escalate into a trade conflict:

贸易冲突

màoyì chōngtū

trade conflict

BONUS

Here are some simple but smart phrases you can use to talk about tariffs:

关税会让商品变贵。

Guānshuì huì ràng shāngpǐn biàn guì.

Tariffs can make products more expensive.

关税会影响经济。

Guānshuì huì yǐngxiǎng jīngjì.

Tariffs affect the economy.

[BONUS] The News

              

Ready to level up your Chinese? Here's a snippet of this news to practice your reading skills.‍

4月11日，国务院关税税则委员会公布公告，

Sì yuè shíyī rì, Guówùyuàn Guānshuì Shuìzé Wěiyuánhuì gōngbù gōnggào,

调整对原产于美国的进口商品加征关税措施。‍

tiáozhěng duì yuánchǎn yú Měiguó de jìnkǒu shāngpǐn jiāzhēng guānshuì cuòshī.

On April 11, the Tariff Commission of the State Council announced an adjustment to the tariff measures on imported goods originating from the United States.

根据法律法规和国际法原则，

Gēnjù fǎlǜ fǎguī hé guójìfǎ yuánzé,

经国务院批准，

jīng Guówùyuàn pīzhǔn,

决定自4月12日起提高对美加征关税，

juédìng zì sì yuè shí'èr rì qǐ tígāo duì Měi jiāzhēng guānshuì,

税率从84%升至125%。

shuìlǜ cóng bǎifēnzhī bāshísì shēngzhì bǎifēnzhī yìbǎi èrshíwǔ.

According to laws and international principles, and with State Council approval, China decided to raise tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125% starting April 12.

USEFUL VOCAB

• 公布公告 (gōngbù gōnggào): to announce a public notice

• 调整 (tiáozhěng): to adjust

• 进口商品 (jìnkǒu shāngpǐn): imported goods

• 美国 (Měiguó): The USA

• 国际经贸 (guójì jīngmào): international trade

• 提高关税 (tígāo guānshuì): to raise tariffs

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