[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Eönwë

I wonder... what about tariffs.. or was Tolkiens world full of freedom in trade. He mentions money nowhere.

Originally Posted by Kuruharan

I think the more developed governments would attempt to regulate trade in some way. The regulation of trade is an ancient part of governmental function.

Actually, I have some information concerning this. And where else than in the Hobbit! See (Smaug to Bilbo):

Originally Posted by Chapter 12: Inside Information

"(...) But what about delivery? What about cartage? What about armed guards and tolls?" And Smaug laughed aloud. He had a wicked and a wily heart, and he knew his guesses were not far out...

This at least looks like a proof that some tariffs existed indeed. Smaug may have lied or not, but he would not have thought of something that did not exist, and he must have presumed that Bilbo well knows what he's talking about - so such economic things were widely known.