There are several motives for government or private import that cause this commercial process to happen. These motives include justified ones, and some are unjustified. In all cases, most governments impose heavy taxes on non-strategic goods, especially in cases of crisis and shortage of hard currency.

Despite the negative impact of import on the economy, it is necessary in the event of a shortage of strategic goods. Wheat, for example, is a basic or strategic commodity. If it is difficult to achieve sufficiency of local production, it is necessary to resort to imports to avoid a crisis or even famine in some cases, and this process is often done by companies that are directly or indirectly subject to the governments.