Tariffs

You see, I have to be certain of a sale or it's unwise to bring in a shipment of my goods!

— Renee Loveland, Trader

Overview

A tax imposed on imported or exported goods by a sovereign authority. Tariffs are a carefully considered aspect of any government's tax policy as well as being tied to their overall trade goals. One cannot impose too steep a tariff or trade may decrease. Too little, and the sovereign's coffers does not receive as much revenue as it could have.
To briefly illustrate, if a city-state wishes to increase the flow of goods into their city in order to increase trade activity then they will enact a low tariff rate on imports. If a city-state has valuable domestic production they wish to protect then they will enact a higher tariff rates on imports. A tariff does not have to be a blanket rate on all inbound goods. A specific rate set for specific kinds of goods is usually the norm.d
As one might expect, each sovereign authority from city-states to great kingdoms impose their own rates on inbound and outbound resources.

At some point someone will get the bright idea to organize some consensus to really lower or abolish tariffs. I bet goods would be flowing from one end of the continent to the other within days after such an agreement.

— Layla Dua, Spice Merchant

Centrum Tariffs

The Free City-State of Centrum tends to impose low tariff rates on all incoming and outgoing goods. The city-state prizes its position as a center of trade for the continent of Quassus. The city is also heavily populated by merchants who value the freedom to move goods without spending too much to do so.

Lunaria Tariffs

The Queendom of Lunaria imposes what could be considered the standard rate if one aggregated all tariff rates across the continent. In recent years the Queendom has sought to lower rates in order to strengthen ties with other city-states and tribes. This emphasis on good relations is part of the strategy being promoted by Queen Shava Lunaria.

Helia Tariffs

It should come as no surprise that the increasingly imperialistic Kingdom of Helia has been increasing tariff rates as their power grows particularly on imports. The Kingdom increasingly sees itself as the center of culture and production for the continent. The only outside partner that can readily trade with them without fear of incurring heavy losses is the Free City-State of Centrum, which is rumored to have cut a secret deal with the elite of Helia.

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A Universal Concept

Tariffs are hardly an exclusive occurrence to the Quassus Continent. The known cities of the Deshret Continent also impose tariffs on trade goods. The rates seem to be especially high on exotic goods which are in high demand that are moved from one continent to the other.
It seems the respective authorities of each continent wish to capitalize on their people's fascination with far away places.

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Note(s) from the Archivists:

The Archivists Guild had to pay some tariffs to import most of our artifacts into Centrum from other places. - Archivist Taenya
Now I understand why you discourage us from throwing after expedition parties. Must not have enough left in the coffer after dealing with the Director's Council. - Archivist Bob 
Something like that. - Archivist Taenya