Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast

Tariffs are as old as the Roman Empire

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April 07, 2025 7:45am

19m

Global markets are reeling in response to US President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, but the tariff itself is nothing new. The ancient Romans applied duties to imports from the East - including incense, spices and jewels - designed to generate vast amounts of government revenue. But Roman tariffs also created problems - from price inflation to the emergence of black markets. 

  • Guest: Peter Edwell, Associate Professor of Ancient History, Macquarie University