Tariff: The well-travelled Arabic term that became a byword for isolationism
a year ago
- #history
- #etymology
- #trade
- Donald Trump referred to 'tariff' as his favorite word, emphasizing its significance in his trade policies.
- The word 'tariff' originates from Arabic, with roots in the word 'ta’rif', meaning to notify or announce.
- There are competing theories on how 'tariff' was popularized in Europe, including through the Ottomans, Muslim rule in Spain, or the Spanish town Tarifa.
- The concept of tariffs may have been first formulated in Tarifa, Spain, where merchant ships were charged a levy.
- English and Spanish languages contain numerous words with Arabic origins, reflecting a long history of cultural and trade exchanges.
- Trump's tariff policies, while isolationist, contrast with the word's history of promoting international trade and shared ideas.