guānshuì: 关税 - Tariff, Customs Duty

• Keywords: guanshui, 关税, tariff in Chinese, China customs duty, import tax China, guanshui meaning, Chinese trade terms, China trade war, what is guanshui, HSK 6 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 关税 (guānshuì), which means “tariff” or “customs duty.” This word is fundamental for understanding China's economy, international trade policies, and news about global commerce. This guide breaks down the characters, explains its use in business and daily life, and provides practical examples to help you discuss trade issues like a pro.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): guānshuì
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 6
• Concise Definition: A tax imposed on goods when they are transported across international borders.
• In a Nutshell: 关税 (guānshuì) is the official fee a country charges on products being imported or, less commonly, exported. Think of it as a “border-crossing fee” for goods. Governments use tariffs to raise revenue and to protect domestic industries by making foreign products more expensive. It's a key term in economics and politics, especially during trade negotiations or disputes.

• 关 (guān): This character's original meaning is a “gate” or a “checkpoint.” In this context, it refers to the 海关 (hǎiguān), or “customs,” the official gateway through which all goods must pass.
• 税 (shuì): This character means “tax.” It is composed of the radical for “grain” (禾) on the left, hinting at ancient taxes being paid in agricultural products.
• The two characters combine literally and logically to mean “customs gate tax” (关 + 税), which perfectly describes a tariff or customs duty.

While 关税 (guānshuì) is primarily an economic term, its application is deeply tied to China's modern history and national strategy. Since the “Reform and Opening Up” (改革开放) policy began in 1978, the adjustment of tariffs has been a primary tool for the Chinese government to manage its economic development.

• Then vs. Now: In the past, high tariffs were used to protect fledgling domestic industries (like automobile manufacturing) from foreign competition. Today, as China's economy has matured, the government often *lowers* tariffs on consumer goods (like cosmetics or baby formula) to stimulate domestic consumption, satisfy the growing middle class, and combat the gray market of goods brought in by travelers.
• Comparison to “Tariff” in the West: In the United States, the word “tariff” is often publicly and politically charged, frequently associated with “trade wars” and partisan debate. In China, while 关税 is a topic of immense importance for policymakers and businesses, public discussion is often framed by the official government narrative. Changes to tariffs are typically presented in state media as strategic, carefully planned decisions for the national good, rather than as contentious political battles. The term itself is technical and neutral, but its use is a powerful instrument of state policy.

You'll encounter 关税 (guānshuì) in several key contexts:

• News and Economics: This is the most common place to see the term. News reports on CCTV or Xinhua will frequently discuss adjustments to `进口关税` (jìnkǒu guānshuì, import tariffs) or `出口关税` (chūkǒu guānshuì, export tariffs) in relation to trade agreements or international relations.
• Business and Logistics: For any company involved in import-export, 关税 is a critical part of calculating the “landed cost” of a product. Discussions will revolve around `关税税率` (guānshuì shuìlǜ, tariff rate) and `缴纳关税` (jiǎonà guānshuì, to pay tariffs).
• Cross-border E-commerce (海淘 - hǎitáo): Chinese consumers who buy products from overseas websites are very familiar with 关税. They often look for sellers who offer `包税` (bāo shuì), meaning the price is “tax-inclusive,” to avoid unexpected charges from customs.

The term's connotation is neutral; whether a tariff is “good” or “bad” depends entirely on whether it's being raised or lowered, and on your perspective as a consumer, producer, or policymaker.

• Example 1:
  • 为了保护本国产业，政府决定提高进口汽车的关税。
  • Pinyin: Wèile bǎohù běnguó chǎnyè, zhèngfǔ juédìng tígāo jìnkǒu qìchē de guānshuì.
  • English: In order to protect domestic industries, the government decided to raise the tariffs on imported cars.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using tariffs for protectionism. The context is formal and economic.
• Example 2:
  • 这两国之间的贸易战导致了高额的报复性关税。
  • Pinyin: Zhè liǎng guó zhījiān de màoyì zhàn dǎozhìle gāo'é de bàofùxìng guānshuì.
  • English: The trade war between these two countries has led to high retaliatory tariffs.
  • Analysis: Here, `关税` is used in the context of a “trade war” (贸易战), showing its role as a political and economic weapon. `报复性` (bàofùxìng) means “retaliatory.”
• Example 3:
  • 从明年一月一日起，部分进口商品的关税将下调。
  • Pinyin: Cóng míngnián yī yuè yī rì qǐ, bùfèn jìnkǒu shāngpǐn de guānshuì jiāng xiàdiào.
  • English: Starting from January 1st next year, the tariffs on some imported goods will be lowered.
  • Analysis: This sentence is typical of a government announcement. `下调` (xiàdiào) means “to lower” or “adjust downwards.”
• Example 4:
  • 这个价格包含关税和运费吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhège jiàgé bāohán guānshuì hé yùnfèi ma?
  • English: Does this price include tariffs and shipping fees?
  • Analysis: A very practical question for anyone involved in purchasing goods from overseas.
• Example 5:
  • 所有进口货物都必须在海关申报并缴纳关税。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu jìnkǒu huòwù dōu bìxū zài hǎiguān shēnbào bìng jiǎonà guānshuì.
  • English: All imported goods must be declared at customs and have their duties paid.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes the legal procedure at customs. `缴纳` (jiǎonà) is a formal verb for “to pay” taxes or fees.
• Example 6:
  • 由于关税降低，现在买进口化妆品便宜多了。
  • Pinyin: Yóuyú guānshuì jiàngdī, xiànzài mǎi jìnkǒu huàzhuāngpǐn piányi duō le.
  • English: Because the tariffs were reduced, buying imported cosmetics is much cheaper now.
  • Analysis: This shows the direct impact of tariff policy on consumers' daily lives.
• Example 7:
  • 我们公司的利润被高昂的关税严重侵蚀了。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de lìrùn bèi gāo'áng de guānshuì yánzhòng qīnshí le.
  • English: Our company's profits have been severely eroded by the high tariffs.
  • Analysis: This illustrates the negative impact of high tariffs from a business perspective. `侵蚀` (qīnshí) literally means “to erode.”
• Example 8:
  • 自由贸易协定旨在消除成员国之间的关税壁垒。
  • Pinyin: Zìyóu màoyì xiédìng zhǐ zài xiāochú chéngyuánguó zhījiān de guānshuì bìlěi.
  • English: The free trade agreement aims to eliminate tariff barriers among member countries.
  • Analysis: A formal sentence describing the goal of free trade agreements. `关税壁垒` (guānshuì bìlěi) means “tariff barriers.”
• Example 9:
  • 这批货物的关税税率是多少？
  • Pinyin: Zhè pī huòwù de guānshuì shuìlǜ shì duōshǎo?
  • English: What is the tariff rate for this batch of goods?
  • Analysis: A specific, practical question used in the logistics and import/export industry. `税率` (shuìlǜ) means “tax rate.”
• Example 10:
  • 一些分析人士认为，加征关税最终会损害本国消费者的利益。
  • Pinyin: Yīxiē fēnxī rénshì rènwéi, jiāzhēng guānshuì zuìzhōng huì sǔnhài běnguó xiāofèizhě de lìyì.
  • English: Some analysts believe that imposing additional tariffs will ultimately harm the interests of domestic consumers.
  • Analysis: A sophisticated sentence expressing an economic opinion. `加征` (jiāzhēng) means “to levy additional” taxes.

• 关税 (guānshuì) vs. 税 (shuì): This is the most common point of confusion. 税 (shuì) is the general word for any “tax,” including income tax (个人所得税), sales tax (销售税), and value-added tax (增值税). 关税 (guānshuì) refers *only* to the tax on goods crossing a border (tariffs/customs duties).
  • Correct: 这个进口商品要交很高的关税。(This imported product has a high tariff.)
  • Incorrect: 这个进口商品要交很高的税。 (This is too general. While technically true, a native speaker would specify `关税` in this context.)
  • Correct: 在中国，我每个月都要交税。(In China, I have to pay taxes every month.) - This refers to general taxes like income tax.
• Final Price vs. Tariff: Remember that the 关税 is just one component of the final cost of an imported item. After the tariff is paid at the border, other domestic taxes like Value-Added Tax (增值税 zēngzhí shuì) and Consumption Tax (消费税 xiāofèi shuì) may also be applied before the product reaches the consumer. Don't assume `关税` is the only tax involved.

• 海关 (hǎiguān) - Customs. The government agency that collects `关税`. The `关` in `关税` comes from this word.
• 税 (shuì) - Tax. The general category that `关税` belongs to.
• 贸易战 (màoyì zhàn) - Trade war. A conflict where countries use `关税` as a primary weapon against each other.
• 进口 (jìnkǒu) - To import. `关税` is most often applied to imported goods (`进口关税`).
• 出口 (chūkǒu) - To export. Less common, but some countries levy `出口关税` (export tariffs) on raw materials.
• 免税 (miǎnshuì) - Duty-free / Tax-exempt. The direct opposite of having to pay `关税`. Often seen in airports (`免税店` - duty-free shop).
• 配额 (pèi'é) - Quota. Another form of trade protectionism that limits the quantity of a good that can be imported, often used in conjunction with tariffs.
• 非关税壁垒 (fēi guānshuì bìlěi) - Non-tariff barriers. Other ways to restrict trade without taxes, such as complex regulations or licensing requirements.