Growing role of non-tariff barriers in trade policy

Abstract

The goal of the paper is to analyze and explain a growing role of non-tariff barriers (NTB) in trade policy. The author enumerates basic categories of NTB and most important economic reasoning for their implementation as well as presents data on their usage. Basically, NTB spread due to the diminishing role of tariffs. For that reason some of the barriers became more apparent, other starred to be used in place of tariffs. Changing nature of NTB also needs to be pointed out ‒ instead of at-the-border measures, countries use behind-the-border measures meaning internal regulations that are not necessarily aimed at restricting trade, but serve different purposes, such as health or environment protection. It causes new problems stemming from deciding whether a measure is discriminatory as well as makes it harder to negotiate multilateral rules relevant to current trade policy.