quota
KWOH-tuh
/ˈkwoʊ.tə/
A fixed physical limit on the quantity of a product that can be imported or produced.
Focuses on explicit numerical restrictions rather than financial fees or taxes.
The story behind the word. Quota comes directly from Medieval Latin 'quota pars', meaning 'how large a share'. Over time, 'quota' was used as an independent noun in commercial law to designate exact legal shares or numerical limits.
Word relationships
- allowance: An allowance is a permitted allocation, while a quota usually implies a legal or regulatory ceiling.
- deregulation: Deregulation removes numerical limits and administrative trade caps.
Commonly confused with
- tariff: A tariff taxes imported items, whereas a quota limits the total physical volume imported.
Word family
- quotas (noun): Plural form of quota
Collocations
- import quota
- fill a quota
- exceed the quota
- quota system
Example sentences
- "The government established an import quota limiting foreign sugar to 100,000 tons per year." Agricultural commerce
- "Factories that exceeded their assigned production quota faced heavy regulatory fines." Manufacturing limits
Memory hook
QUOTA asks QUITE OUGHT TO be how many? Numerical import limit.
When not to use
Do not confuse with price surcharges or percentage tax rates.
Fun facts
- In the 1980s, Japanese automakers accepted 'Voluntary Export Restraints'—self-imposed quotas—to head off harsher U.S. tariff legislation.
Related words
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