English Listening Practice: Learn Key Words and Phrases (Tariffs)

Learn key words and phrases all about tariffs in this English lesson. Practice your listening and improve your English.

Useful Vocabulary and Phrases


Tariffs are added to imported goods. 👉 Passive voice for focus. Example: Taxes are collected by the government.


Tariffs can protect local jobs. 👉 Use modal verbs (can/might/could) for possibility. Example: Tariffs might protect local industries.


Consumers will end up paying more. 👉 “End up” = final result of a situation. Example: If prices rise, shoppers end up spending less overall.


Supply chain 👉 Where parts of a product are made and assembled. Example: The global supply chain was disrupted last year.


Free trade 👉 Trade with no tariffs or restrictions. Example: The EU is an example of a free trade area.


Retaliate 👉 Respond with an action. Example: One country raised tariffs, the other retaliated.


Trade deficit 👉 When imports are greater than exports. Example: The US has a trade deficit with
China.

Conditional Sentences with Tariffs


If tariffs go up, prices will go up. 👉 First conditional (real future).


If countries keep raising tariffs, it might start a trade war. 👉 First conditional with might (possibility).


If tariffs were lower, consumers would save money. 👉 Second conditional (hypothetical). 💬

Idioms About Money and Tariffs


Pick up the tab – to pay for something, often expensive. Example: Shoppers pick up the tab when tariffs rise.


Hit the wallet – to negatively affect finances. Example: Tariffs have hit consumers’ wallets hard this year.

 
Jack up the prices – to raise prices suddenly and sharply. Example: Companies had to jack up prices after tariffs were introduced.


Tighten your belt – to spend less money. Example: Families are tightening their belts due to higher grocery costs.