Quantitative Methods for Trade-barrier Analysis

A major problem that has plagued international efforts to liberalize nontariff trade barriers (NTBs) is the lack of transparency associated with these measureas. Unlike tariffs, nominal equivalents of NTBs are often very difficult to derive while there are normally major problems in trying to approximate their trade, welfare, employment and other economic effects. This lack of information on the effects (costs) of nontariff barriers and the extent of their application has posed major difficulties for both research personnel and individuals participating in multilateral trade negotiations such as the Uruguay Round. This book rectifys these problems by providing a comprehensive evaluation of procedures for quantifying the effects of nontariff barriers. The book examines the theoretical bases for a alternative procedure for measuring NTBs effects and also presents a comprehensive critical survey of previous studies that utilized these empirical procedures. By employing newly constructed inventories of nontariff barriers detailed empirical evidence on the use of nontariff barriers in developed and developing countries is derived. As such, the book should be of major interest to all students, researchers, or individuals in national or international organizations who are concerned with liberalization efforts or basic research on the effects of nontariff barriers.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Policy issues involving nontariff barriers: informational needs for corrective policy action; the costs and consequences of protectionism; implications of NTBs for trade and development policies; NTBs and the Uruguay Round; the trade potentials of the socialists countries. Part 2 Quantitative approaches to trade barrier analysis: the nontariff measure inventory approach; economic effects of NTBs - a general analysis; methods for quantifying specific nontariff barriers; special purpose estimation procedures. Part 3 Simulating the effects of trade liberalization: basic features of partial equilibrium trade models; the data and parameters; illustrative policy applciations. Part 4 The implications of NTB inventory studies: the global importance of nontariff measures; the sectorial coverage of nontariff measures; national variations in nontariff measure usage; nontariff measures in developing countries. Part 5 The trade and economic consequences of NTBs: studies based on the inventory approach; studies of agricultural trade barriers; studies relating to textiles and clothing; studies relating to ferrous metals; studies relating to other manufactured products. Appendices: country-product classification for trade barrier analysis; approximating the effective rate of protection; tariff protection in developed and developing countries; a glossary of nontariff measures; the Punta del Este Ministerial declaration.