Trade Barrier
Category: other
Government-imposed restrictions on international trade, including tariffs, quotas and regulations.
A trade barrier is any government-imposed measure that restricts or impedes the free flow of goods and services between countries. Trade barriers include tariffs, quotas, import licenses, technical standards, labeling requirements, and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) like regulations and certifications. Cross-border e-commerce sellers must navigate trade barriers in each target market, which significantly impact pricing and market access.
Examples
- • Technical standards like CE marking (EU), FCC (US), and PSE (Japan) act as non-tariff trade barriers that sellers must meet before selling in those markets.
- • Import quotas on certain textile products limit the quantity that can be imported at preferential tariff rates.
- • Licensing requirements for food, cosmetics, and medical devices in various countries create significant trade barriers for cross-border e-commerce sellers.