What is the term for a tax imposed on imports?

The correct term for a tax imposed on imports is a tariff. Tariffs are government-imposed duties on the value of specific goods imported into a country. Their primary purpose is to make imported goods more expensive compared to domestic products, thereby helping to protect local industries and reduce the trade deficit.

Tariffs can also generate revenue for the government and can be used as a tool in trade negotiations, influencing relationships between importing and exporting countries. By understanding tariffs, one can appreciate their significant role in international trade dynamics and economic policy. The other options—such as excise taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes—are applied differently and do not refer specifically to taxes on imported goods.