Handelskrig

Handelskrig, or trade war, is a situation in which countries use tariffs, quotas, and other trade barriers against each other's goods and services to protect domestic industries, influence policy, or gain concessions in negotiations. They typically arise when policymakers view foreign trade practices as unfair or to counter competition from imported goods, and are often escalated through reciprocal measures.

Common instruments include tariffs (duties on imports), import quotas, other non-tariff barriers such as standards or licensing requirements, export controls, domestic subsidies for industry, and sometimes currency actions intended to affect competitiveness.

Economic effects are mixed and can be detrimental overall. Targeted sectors may receive temporary benefits, but higher prices for consumers, disrupted supply chains, and reduced efficiency tend to follow. Retaliation can provoke a tariff cycle that lowers export demand and slows economic growth for both sides. Uncertainty can dampen investment and global trade.

Historical examples include the United States’ Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, often cited as a factor in worsening global trade during the interwar period, and the trade tensions between the United States and China beginning in 2018. Other disputes have involved the European Union and its trading partners, resolved through bilateral deals or World Trade Organization processes.

Policy responses focus on negotiation, multilateral rules, and dispute settlement. In modern economies, the rise of global value chains makes broad tariffs more costly and can lead to shifts in production geography rather than simple protection of domestic industries.

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