import surcharge

import surcharge

an extra duty placed on an imported good by the government, over and above existing rates of import duty customs duty or tariff. Import duties are used primarily to discourage imports as a means of protecting the country's BALANCE OF PAYMENTS.

import surcharge

a special TAX levied on IMPORTS (over and above existing TARIFF rates). Import surcharges are employed primarily as a (temporary) means of assisting in the removal of a balance-of-payments deficit. See IMPORT RESTRICTIONS, BALANCE OF PAYMENTS EQUILIBRIUM.