TARIFF REGIMES IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE: GENESIS AND STRUCTURE

Abstract

Tariff regimes are a key instrument of international trade, influencing the economic development of countries, global supply chains, and geopolitical stability. This article analyzes the genesis of tariffs, starting from the mercantilist era of the 17th-18th centuries, with a focus on the Napoleonic Wars (the role of Britain and France through the Continental Blockade and Corn Laws) and the period leading up to World War I (French Méline tariffs, German Bismarck reforms), where protectionism is seen as a potential catalyst for conflict, reducing trade by 10-50% and intensifying economic nationalism. The structure of tariff regimes is classified by type (ad valorem, specific, combined), multi-level regimes (customs unions, preferential agreements) and institutions (the role of the WTO, GATT, regional blocs such as the EU or USMCA), using empirical data from the WTO and IMF for 2025, which indicate a 1.5-2% increase in rates due to trade wars.