Should governments use tariffs to protect domestic economies?

Context

Tariffs are taxes on imported goods designed to make foreign products more expensive and protect domestic industries from competition. Governments use them to shield jobs, support local manufacturers, and improve trade balances, but economists warn they can raise consumer prices, trigger retaliatory tariffs, and reduce overall economic efficiency. The debate intensified in recent years as major economies—particularly the U.S., EU, and China—deployed tariffs as strategic tools, making this a central question in global trade policy.