CompuGlobal is an American firm producing computers. CompuGlobal imports computer components from Taiwan and assembles them domestically. Suppose that in the United States, a computer sells for $800 and that 60% of the computer’s value comes from the value of the imported components. The United States imposes a 50% tariff on computers and a 10% tariff on the computer’s components. Assume that costs of producing components are the same in the United States and Taiwan and that transit costs are nonexistent. Based on the information provided, the effective rate of protection that CompuGlobal receives from the tariff is

110%

Explanation:

The effective rate of protection is used in measuring the final tariff in a particular sector and it's expressed as:

g = (t -ai,ti) / (1 - ai)

where,

g = effective protection rate

ai = nominal tariff rate = 0.6

t = cost of intermediate input = 0.5

ti = nominal tariff on intermediate input = 0.1

The computer price here is $800 while the input price is 60% of $800 which will be:

= 60% × $800 = $480

nominal tariff rate = 480/800 = 0.6

Nominal tariff on final goods, t = 50% = 0.5

Tariff on imported input, ti = 10% = 0.1

Using the formula:

g = (t -ai,ti) / (1 - ai)

g = [0.5 - (0.6×0.1)] / (1 - 0.6)

g = (0.5 - 0.06) / 0.4

g = 0.44/.0.4

g = 1.10

g = 110%

The effective rate of protection is 110%