Relationship between Tariff Barriers and Economic Growth in Peru

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between tariff barriers and Peru’s economic growth over the period 1960–2023. Using a quantitative, applied, and longitudinal approach, 64 annual observations based on official data sources were analysed. The results indicate a negative and statistically significant correlation (rho = −0.787; p < 0.05) between tariff levels and real GDP, suggesting that periods characterised by higher levels of trade protection tended to coincide with weaker economic performance. While tariff measures may serve a defensive role in the short run, their persistent application is commonly associated with distortions that undermine competitiveness and aggregate productivity. In this context, the study suggests that a trade policy guided by empirical evidence, and grounded in a balance between external openness and internal development, constitutes a relevant element for sustaining more stable trajectories of economic growth.