what was the purpose of the smoot hawley tariff of 1930 
the smoot hawley tariff act of 1930 was enacted to protect u s farmers from foreign competition by increasing tariffs on certain foreign goods it was also purposed to offer protections to other industries from foreign competitors did the smoot hawley tariff act cause the great depression the smoot hawley tariff act did not cause the great depression however it worsened conditions during that time the act increased tariffs which further stressed struggling nations including those in debt to the u s and caused other nations to retaliate by imposing their own tariffs as a result international trade decreased significantly 