Imposing tariffs

Andromeda | Aug 30, 2026Aug 26, 2026

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• discuss international trade and the effects of imposing tariffs;
• watch a video about Chinese electric vehicles entering the European market;
• review vocabulary related to trade policy (e.g. restrict imports, absorb the cost, retaliate).

In this lesson, students discuss their country’s imports and exports and read texts about who really bears the cost of tariffs, reviewing key vocabulary along the way. They watch a video about why Chinese EVs are cheaper to produce than European ones and discuss the wider implications for global trade. Students also role-play as government advisors, weighing the pros and cons of imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs and deciding what action their country should take.

WARM-UP AND VOCABULARY

This lesson starts with a warm-up in which students discuss their country’s main imports and exports and the challenges facing international trade. Afterwards, they read two texts on imposing tariffs — covering who bears the burden of tariffs and the story of the Chicken Tax — and explain why this information matters for decision-makers. Moving on, students choose the correct definitions for vocabulary in bold (e.g. restrict imports, exempt from tariffs, distorting effect, retaliate), then discuss a series of questions about tariffs and trade policy in their own country. Following that, they choose four points from a list and think of a real-world example for each.

VIDEO AND DISCUSSION

In this part of the lesson, students discuss car-exporting countries and what makes a car competitive before watching the first part of a video and explaining why it’s cheaper to make EVs in China than in Europe. They then watch the second part of the video and decide whether statements about engines, batteries and manufacturing are true or false, correcting the false ones. Students go on to say how much they agree with statements about the global success of Chinese EVs and whether governments should support local industry. Finally, in pairs, students take on the role of trade advisors and weigh up the pros and cons of imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs, deciding whether to introduce one and, if so, at what rate and for how long.

HOMEWORK/REVISION

This lesson also includes an additional task that you can use as homework or revision. In the task, students complete gapped sentences about trade policy using vocabulary from the lesson, such as exempt, restrict, distort, absorb and retaliate. The task is available in the teacher’s version of the worksheet. You can print it, cut it up and hand it out to your students. It’s also included in the e-lesson plan.

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