The article analyses the evolution of Brazilian tariff policy between 1844 and 1889. At first a review of the various tariff schedules adopted during the period is made, with their main features highlighted. The next section seeks to assess the impact of tariff policy on the degree of protection afforded to the domestic sector. To that effect, three types of exercises are carried out: first, the “real cost of imports” and its determinants are calculated; we then calculate coefficients of partial correlation between the quantity of imports, GDP, price of imports, the rate of exchange and import tariffs; finally, we estimate econometrically import demand equations. The exercises reveal that during the II Reign tariffs were important in explaining variations in total imports, although this importance diminished after 1869.