Final answer:
Export licenses control the export of goods more than protect them. Conversely, tariffs and other trade restrictions protect domestic industries from foreign competition by making imports more expensive. These measures are often motivated by factors like national security, job preservation, and environmental protection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice of requiring exporters to obtain a license does not primarily protect against damage, loss, pilferage, or delay of exported goods; instead, licenses are often used by national governments to control the volume and types of goods leaving the country, ensuring compliance with various national laws and trade agreements. Policies restricting imports, however, are a common measure to protect domestic industries, and they come in various forms, including tariffs, quotas, or outright bans.
For instance, tariffs are taxes imposed on imported goods and serve a dual purpose: they generate revenue for the government while simultaneously making imported products more expensive when compared to domestic ones. This helps to safeguard local businesses from foreign competition. The fundamental reasons behind such trade restrictions often include the safeguarding of national security, preservation of jobs, and avoidance of becoming too reliant on crucial imports that could be compromised during geopolitical conflicts.
Environment considerations also drive trade policies. Some nations worry about the potential environmental hazards when multinational corporations relocate production to countries with lax pollution standards, sacrificing environmental quality for economic gains.
Understanding these aspects of international trade, including concepts like demand and supply, is crucial for analyzing the effects of government policies on both global and domestic scales.