dazi

Dazi is the Italian plural noun for dazio, meaning customs duties or tariffs imposed by a government on goods that cross its borders. The singular dazio refers to a specific charge assessed by the customs authorities. In Italian-language discourse, dazi commonly describe the tariffs applied to imports, though they can also refer to export duties in contexts where those exist.

In international trade, dazi function as policy instruments to raise revenue, influence trade patterns, or protect domestic industries from foreign competition. Tariff rates can be ad valorem (a percentage of the value of the goods), specific (a fixed amount per unit), or a combination of both. Dazi may be targeted at particular sectors, products, or countries, and may be adjusted in response to economic conditions or bargaining in trade agreements. They are often accompanied by other trade measures such as quotas, anti-dumping duties, or safeguards.

Policy debates about dazi focus on their economic effects, including consumer prices, production costs, and efficiency. Tariffs can raise the cost of imports, alter relative prices, and provoke retaliatory measures, potentially affecting employment and overall welfare. They are also a core element of broader trade negotiations and reforms, including efforts to liberalize trade and harmonize rules across regions.

Legal and international frameworks constrain dazi through organizations such as the World Trade Organization, which governs most-favored-nation treatment, national treatment, and binding tariff commitments. Developed and developing countries may have special provisions or exemptions within these rules.

In English-language contexts, the term dazi is most often translated as tariffs or duties. It remains primarily a term used in Italian or Italian-language discussions of trade policy.