Trade Forum

Issue 03/2012 During the past decades bilateral and multilateral trade agreements have led to a reduction in tariff-related barriers to global trade. But during the same period the world has experienced a steady rise in the number of non-tariff measures (NTMs). These NTMs can provide major...

Since the outbreak of the global financial crisis in August 2008 and the ensuing G20 summit in November, governments have resorted to less transparent forms of commercial policy intervention.

Resources on trade and export development for exporters, trade support institutions and policymakers

ITC has redeveloped the Market Access Map analysis tool, making market entry costs and rules more transparent

How can developing countries best access the European Union (EU) market? A good starting point is the European Commission’s Export Helpdesk, which provides a free online service covering all import rules in force in the EU on a product-by-product and country-by-country basis.

The gradual disappearance of tariffs since the 1948 birth of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade has been counter-balanced by a growing presence of non-tariff measures (NTMs) in international trade.

Despite a global decline in tariff rates to historically low levels, trade is far from being free.

The history of trade policy since World War II is one of remarkable success in terms of reducing tariffs.

The West African Quality Programme (WAQP) implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and funded by the European Union (EU) has been running for 10 years.

The League of Arab States has one of the lowest levels of intraregional trade in the world despite preferential market access and significant cultural homogeneity. Trade potential exists, but is as yet untapped.

The World Trade Organization's (WTO) World Trade Report 2012 takes a fresh look at non-tariff measures (NTMs).

The ITC survey in Peru and its part in creating workable policy options around non-tariff measures (NTMs) provide a benchmark for further surveys and follow-up activity.