Article 1, Section 10, Paragraph 2
No State shall, without the Consent of the Congress, lay any Imposts or Duties on Imports or Exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it’s inspection Laws: and the net Produce of all Duties and Imposts, laid by any State on Imports or Exports, shall be for the Use of the Treasury of the United States; and all such Laws shall be subject to the Revision and Controul of the Congress.
State Fees on Commerce
God asks for a simple tithe of all that is owned or produced each season.
Biblically, there are no allowances made for import duties. A city could control imports by simply refusing to allow certain importers access to the city. People who buy imports outside the city would accept the risk.
In normal conditions, the cost and risks of transporting goods should more than make up for the price differentiation that a "duty" would seek to impose.
Outside of approval by Congress, the States were not to impose any fees on import or export of goods, unless they are necessary in order to enforce inspection laws.
Inspections are done to make sure a product is fit to be marketed, and that it will not bring harm to another region. California has stiff inspection laws to protect the agriculture industry. All it takes is a single pest, and an industry is destroyed.
It is only right that the importer and exporter pay for these inspections.
The owner of goods is liable for any damage caused by his things. If the damage is unforeseeable, then liability ends with the destruction of the product. If there is a history, then the owner is liable to pay equal damages.
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