Tariff issue - kanzei mondai (English spelling)

Japanese: 関税問題 - かんぜいもんだい（英語表記）Guān shuì wèn tí

Tariffs imposed on the import and export of goods from and to other countries are of great importance to the economy of a nation aiming to industrialize late. Originally, independent countries were said to have the right to determine their own tariffs independently (tariff autonomy), but there were many cases in which developing countries and countries close to colonies were forced by other countries to agree on tax rates. A historically important case was that of China. As a result of the Opium Wars in 1840 (the 20th year of the Daoguang era), China agreed to open five ports, fix tariff rates at approximately 5% ad valorem, and include a most-favored-nation clause through treaties with Britain, France, and other countries.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

外国との商品の輸出入時に課せられる関税は，おくれて工業化を目ざす国家の経済にとって重要な意義をもっている。元来，独立国は，自国の関税を自主的に決定する権利(関税自主権)を有するとされるが，後進国や植民地に近い国々では，しばしば相手国から強制されて税率を協定する例がみられた。歴史上重要なのは中国における場合である。　1840年(道光20)のアヘン戦争の結果，中国はイギリス，フランス等の各国との条約により，5港の開港と関税率のほぼ従価5％への固定，さらに最恵国待遇条項の挿入を認めた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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