Reforming Non-Tariff Measures

Olivier Cadot, Michael J. Ferrantino, Julien Gourdon and José-Daniel Reyes

No 28879 in World Bank Publications - Books from The World Bank Group

Abstract: High levels of trade costs persist in the world trading system, despite recent progress in tariff reduction, trade facilitation, and logistics. At least some of these costs can be attributed to non-tariff measures (NTMs), policies imposed by governments other than ordinary customs duties which have an impact on the price at which exports and imports are traded, the quantities traded, or both. Such costs are particularly worrisome if they have a discriminatory or protectionist effect, or violate countries’ international commitments. However, even NTMs designed to carry out domestic regulatory objectives – for example, protection of human, animal or plant health, consumer or workplace safety, or the environment – can have substantial effects on international trade, which should be considered when such policies are developed. This book discusses some of the analytical methods that can be used to accompany the process of policy development for NTMs. It discusses the broad economic rationale for improving the design of NTMs;, illustrates the main forms of quantification of NTMs and their effects, including inventory approaches, price-based approaches, and quantity-based approaches; proposes a new analytical and measurable concept of “regulatory distance” to help guide deep integration efforts at the regional level; provides a discussion of the effects of NTMs on household expenditures, poverty, and firm competitiveness; and shows how empirical analysis of NTMs can be used to inform policy advice. As such, it should provide a valuable addition to the arsenal of tools available for applied analysis of international trade policy.

Keywords: International; Economics; and; Trade-Access; to; Markets; International; Economics; and; Trade-Customs; and; Trade; International; Economics; and; Trade-International; Trade; and; Trade; Rules; International; Economics; and; Trade-Rules; of; Origin; International; Economics; and; Trade-Trade; Policy; International; Economics; and; Trade-Trade; and; Standards; Law; and; Development-Trade; Law; Private; Sector; Development-Legal; Regulation; and; Business; Environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
ISBN: 978-1-4648-1138-8
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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