By Lic. Luis Ma. Ruiz Pou
Economic coercion functions as a strategy to compel a nation or trade bloc into accepting political, territorial, or diplomatic conditions by threatening economic sanctions. One of the most effective tools used in this process is the imposition of disproportionate tariffs—taxes on imported goods that target key sectors of the targeted country’s economy.
Such tactics aim to create internal instability and domestic pressure, pushing a government to make political, commercial, or territorial concessions. The underlying message is often implicit: comply with demands or face significant economic losses through excessive tariffs or trade restrictions.
The mechanism typically involves identifying critical production sectors and imposing high import taxes on raw materials or components essential for manufacturing final products. These pressures are often applied to countries with which trade agreements exist, and short deadlines are frequently issued to prompt rapid compliance, generating uncertainty among potentially affected nations.
A recent illustration of this approach was the trade policy of the United States under certain administrations, which threatened to impose tariffs on allied nations unless they revised trade agreements or addressed migration and security concerns. Analysts have widely interpreted these actions as economic coercion masked as protectionism.
While such strategies may appear as standard geopolitical maneuvering, they raise serious ethical concerns. Transforming trade into a tool of pressure undermines principles of fairness and national sovereignty that should guide international relations. Furthermore, these actions can provoke retaliatory measures, harm neutral countries, and destabilize entire economies.
Originally intended as instruments for economic protection, tariffs have increasingly become silent weapons of influence. This shift reflects a troubling trend where commercial power replaces diplomacy and dialogue. The resulting internal pressure within targeted nations—spreading uncertainty among businesses, consumers, and officials—creates conditions favorable to forced negotiations.