Final answer:
Tariff and nontariff barriers are significant to the strategy of protectionism, designed to control trade. These barriers can include taxes on imports or complex regulations that make it difficult to import products. These practices were a catalyst for the creation of the World Trade Organization to help regulate and reduce trade restrictions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tariff and nontariff barriers are key tools important to the economic strategy of protectionism. These tools are utilized by countries to control the amount of trade across their borders, by imposing tariffs which are taxes on imports, or nontariff barriers, which encompass a variety of restrictive regulations such as safety standards and 'rules-of-origin' requirements. The latter can significantly increase the cost and complexity of importing goods, potentially limiting the volume of imports just as effectively as tariffs. The proliferation of such trade barriers was one of the reasons behind the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which aims to reduce trade obstacles and facilitate smooth trade relations between countries. In addition to goods like textiles and agriculture, WTO agreements also cover trade in services and intellectual property, and include mechanisms for dispute settlement.