Trade and non-tariff measures

The focus of this report is particularly on the consequences of non-tariff measures (NTMs) for developing economies and also South-South trade. This is because (i) barriers to South-South trade need to be tackled if it is to fulfil its potential as a future driver of growth; and (ii) regional developing economies are increasingly the source of new NTMs as well as being their 'victims'. Chapter 1 provides an overview of global and regional trends in trade, tariffs and non-tariff measures and highlights the growing importance of NTMs. Chapter 2 surveys methodological problems that arise when evaluating NTMs and trade. Chapters 3 and 4 consider in more details two of the most prominent and widely-used types of NTM, respectively Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBTs). Chapter 5 concludes by reviewing mechanisms for streamlining NTMs and promoting developing countries' trade, particularly at the regional level