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Making Trade Policy More Transparent: A New Database of Non-Tariff Measures

Author

Listed:
  • Malouche, Mariem

    (World Bank)

  • Reyes, José-Daniel

    (World Bank)

  • Fouad, Amir

    (World Bank)

Abstract

As tariff levels have reached all-time lows in recent decades, non-tariff measures (NTMs) have taken a central role in the international trade agenda. In a nutshell, NTMs are all types of trade regulations, other than tariffs, that directly or indirectly affect international trade. The World Trade Organization (WTO) recognizes the right of countries to introduce trade regulations to achieve legitimate objectives not related to trade, such as consumer health protection and food safety. However, NTMs can be hijacked and used as protectionist tools that can potentially drive up trade costs, divert managerial attention, and penalize small exporters—regardless of an NTM’s original intent. In the face of fragmented, inconsistent, and largely unavailable data on NTMs, the World Bank is at the forefront of an inter-institutional effort to codify, harmonize, and disseminate information on NTMs and their economic impacts. The goal is to increase policy makers awareness of NTMs and help them better understand not only the impacts of their main trading partners’ NTMs, but also of their own NTM policies on competitiveness, prices, and welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Malouche, Mariem & Reyes, José-Daniel & Fouad, Amir, 2013. "Making Trade Policy More Transparent: A New Database of Non-Tariff Measures," World Bank - Economic Premise, The World Bank, issue 128, pages 1-7, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:prmecp:ep128
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    File URL: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTPREMNET/Resources/EP128.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. David C. Francis & Helena Schweiger, 2017. "Not so different from non-traders," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 25(2), pages 185-238, April.
    2. Hendrik W. Kruse & Inma Martínez-Zarzoso & Leila Baghdadi, 2017. "Standards and Market Power: Evidence from Tunisia," Working Papers 1131, Economic Research Forum, revised 08 2017.
    3. Evelyn S. Devadason & V.G.R. Chandran & Tang Tuck Cheong, . "Non-tariff Measures in Malaysia," Chapters, in: Lili Yan Ing & Santiago Fernandez de Cordoba & Olivier Cadot (ed.), Non-Tariff Measures in ASEAN, chapter 7, pages 87-101, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
    4. Kruse, Hendrik W. & Martínez-Zarzoso, Inma & Baghdadi, Leila, 2021. "Standards and political connections: Evidence from Tunisia," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    5. Evelyn S. Devadason & VGR Chandran & Kaliappa Kalirajan, 2018. "Harmonization of food trade standards and regulations in ASEAN: the case of Malaysia's food imports," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(1), pages 97-109, January.
    6. El-Haddad, Amirah, 2020. "Redefining the social contract in the wake of the Arab Spring: The experiences of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • F4 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance
    • F42 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - International Policy Coordination and Transmission
    • F6 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization

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