Master English Vocabulary Through Real-World Topics: Tariffs & Trade Wars
- Andrea Carina Rabagliati
- Oct 27
- 3 min read
Want to boost your English while staying informed about global affairs? At ACR Idiomas, we believe language learning should be practical, relevant, and powerful. That’s why today we’re diving into key vocabulary and idiomatic expressions connected to tariffs, trade wars, and international commerce.
Whether you’re studying business English, preparing for an exam, or just want to understand the news better, these terms are essential.
Take a look at this mini challenge:
Match each term with its correct definition.
A. Tariff
B. Trade War
C. Import
D. Export
E. Protectionism
F. Quota
G. Subsidy
H. Balance of Trade
A government policy that supports domestic businesses by restricting foreign competition.
A financial support from the government to encourage the production or consumption of a certain product.
The difference in value between what a country sells abroad and what it buys.
A limit on how much of a certain good can be brought into or sent out of a country.
A situation in which two or more countries increase taxes or restrictions on each other's goods.
A product or service that is sold to another country.
A product or service that is brought into a country.
A tax added to products when they cross international borders.
Challenge 2 🌍 Story: Trouble at the Ports
Use the words above to complete the story
Global dynamics shifted rapidly when Country A introduced a high (1) ________ on steel products from Country B. In retaliation, Country B imposed its own restrictions, and soon both nations found themselves caught in a full-blown (2) ________.
Before this, Country A relied heavily on the (3) ________ of raw materials to supply its factories, while also maintaining a healthy (4) ________ by selling finished goods abroad. However, rising costs and shrinking markets made this increasingly difficult.
In an effort to protect local industries, the government announced a wave of (5) ________ policies — limiting foreign competition and promoting domestic businesses. It introduced a (6) ________ on certain electronics, capping how much could enter the country each month.
To support farmers hit by falling prices, the government offered a (7) ________ to help reduce their production costs and boost competitiveness abroad. Meanwhile, exporters struggled to meet demand as customers overseas began to look elsewhere for cheaper alternatives.
Economists warned that if this continued, the country’s (8) ________ could tip into the negative, increasing the national deficit and weakening the economy even further.
Why Learn This?
Understanding terms like tariff or protectionism isn’t just about language. It’s about being informed. These words come up in news headlines, political debates, and economic reports around the world. When you understand the language of global trade, you gain a clearer view of how the world works—and your English gets sharper in the process.
Ready to Go Deeper?
At ACR Idiomas, we turn real-world topics into powerful language learning tools. Our classes are designed to help you connect vocabulary to meaning, context, and confident use.
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