Learn key words and phrases all about tariffs in this English lesson. Practice your listening and improve your English.
Useful Vocabulary and Phrases
Tariffs are added to imported goods. 👉 Passive voice for focus. Example: Taxes are collected by the government.
Tariffs can protect local jobs. 👉 Use modal verbs (can/might/could) for possibility. Example: Tariffs might protect local industries.
Consumers will end up paying more. 👉 “End up” = final result of a situation. Example: If prices rise, shoppers end up spending less overall.
Supply chain 👉 Where parts of a product are made and assembled. Example: The global supply chain was disrupted last year.
Free trade 👉 Trade with no tariffs or restrictions. Example: The EU is an example of a free trade area.
Retaliate 👉 Respond with an action. Example: One country raised tariffs, the other retaliated.
Trade deficit 👉 When imports are greater than exports. Example: The US has a trade deficit with
China.
Conditional Sentences with Tariffs
If tariffs go up, prices will go up. 👉 First conditional (real future).
If countries keep raising tariffs, it might start a trade war. 👉 First conditional with might (possibility).
If tariffs were lower, consumers would save money. 👉 Second conditional (hypothetical). 💬
Idioms About Money and Tariffs
Pick up the tab – to pay for something, often expensive. Example: Shoppers pick up the tab when tariffs rise.
Hit the wallet – to negatively affect finances. Example: Tariffs have hit consumers’ wallets hard this year.
Jack up the prices – to raise prices suddenly and sharply. Example: Companies had to jack up prices after tariffs were introduced.
Tighten your belt – to spend less money. Example: Families are tightening their belts due to higher grocery costs.