How did Jean-Baptiste Colbert use tariffs to protect French manufacturing?

Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a central figure in 17th-century French mercantilism, utilized tariffs as a primary tool to bolster national industry and reduce reliance on foreign goods.12

His approach included the following key strategies:

• Protective Barriers: Colbert implemented strict protective tariffs against foreign produce to shield domestic manufacturers from international competition.12
• Systemic Reform: In 1664, he revised the tariff system to establish a greater measure of uniformity across central France, aiming to streamline the economic landscape despite the persistence of provincial dues.1
• Economic Warfare: By prioritizing the production of high-quality goods to compete abroad, Colbert’s protectionist policies triggered "tariff warfare" with other nations, most notably contributing to the Dutch War of 1672–78.1

Colbert believed that increasing France's share of international trade was essential to national power. While his efforts to regulate industry and commerce faced resistance from traders and limited capital investment, they successfully raised the output of manufactures and established new permanent industries within France.1