Tariff
In contrast, in economic theory tariffs are viewed as a primary element in international trade with the function of the tariff being to influence the flow of trade by lowering or raising the price of targeted goods to create what amounts to an artificial competitive advantage. When tariffs are viewed and used in this fashion, they are addressing the country's and the competitors' respective economic healths in terms of maximizing or minimizing revenue flow rather than in terms of the ability to generate and maintain a competitive advantage which is the source of the revenue. As a result, the impact of the tariffs on the economic health of the country are at best minimal but often are counter-productive.
Tariff-rate quota
A tariff-rate quota (TRQ) is a two-tiered international trade tariff that combines two policy instruments used historically to protect domestic production by restricting imports−Import quotas and tariffs. The quotas set a quantitative threshold for a designated time period for imports of a protected domestic product. Under that threshold, tariffs applied to imports are either very low or nonexistent. Over that threshold, imports are subject to a significantly higher tariff that is intentionally prohibitive. TRQs have been required by the World Trade Organization (WTO) since the 1995 Uruguay Round Agreement 123 contract party nations engaged in international trade.