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What is a barrier to goods
If you’re exporting goods, trade barriers can include:
customs procedures: for example, lengthy procedures that delay goods getting to market
problems with enforcing international rules and regulations: for example, a lack of regulatory measures for products or services, or non-compliance with WTO regulations
environmental, safety or quality regulations: for example, restricting goods that could be harmful to the local environment
government procurement restrictions: for example, conditions that give local businesses an advantage over foreign competitors in winning government contracts
import quotas or price controls: for example, limits on the amount of goods that can be imported
packaging, labelling or design regulations: for example, overly specific requirements for information that must be on packaging
poor protection of intellectual property rights: for example, failure to respect the legislation of patents, trademarks, industrial design, layout designs of integrated circuits, copyright, geographical indications or sharing trade secrets
requirements for goods to be locally produced: for example, a government demanding that a percentage of goods must be made domestically
restrictions on live animals, or animal and plant products: for example, a ban on a UK meat based on inaccurate ideas about animal health risks
requirements to use local assets, components or workers: for example, being required to train and use local workers
rules of origin issues: for example, problems with requirements for evidence demonstrating where goods were made
state-granted monopolies or exclusive rights: for example, a government granting one or more private companies the sole right to operate in a particular market
testing, inspection and certification procedures: for example, overly complex assessments to show produce complies with technical regulations or standards
unfair use of state help, subsidies or application of competition rules: for example, competition law applied in an unfair way to target foreign firms or protect domestic firms
What is a barrier to services
If you’re exporting services, trade barriers can include:
difficulty accessing data or restrictions on storing or sending data: for example, limits on cross-border transfer of personal information
problems with enforcing international rules and regulations: for example, a lack of regulatory measures for products or services, or non-compliance with WTO regulations
fees that only apply to foreign service suppliers: for example, unnecessary charges on foreign suppliers that give an advantage to domestic suppliers
government procurement restrictions: for example, the host government deliberately creating conditions that give local businesses an advantage over foreign competitors in winning government contracts
poor protection of intellectual property rights: for example, failure to respect the legislation of patents, trademarks, industrial design, layout designs of integrated circuits, copyright, geographical indications or sharing trade secrets
limitations on access to key infrastructure: for example, barriers to foreign service suppliers opening a local bank account or registering websites with a local domain name
local presence requirements: for example, requirements for a service supplier to be a resident or from a local enterprise
price controls: for example, controlling the price of imported services so they don’t have a price advantage over domestic services
qualification requirements: for example, a requirement for foreign suppliers to have local qualifications
restrictions on foreign entry or movement of people: for example, difficulty dealing with visa costs, arranging visas, residency or nationality requirements or restrictions on buying land as a foreign service supplier
restrictions on business structure: for example, requirements to operate under a certain structure as a business, legal entity or joint venture
restrictions on investment: for example, a limit on how much a supplier can invest in the country they’re exporting to
requirements to use local assets, components or workers: for example, being required to train and use local workers
restrictions on business names: for example, restrictions on service suppliers operating under a business name
state-granted monopolies or exclusive rights: for example, a government granting one or more private companies the sole right to operate in a particular market
taxes that protect or favour local suppliers: for example, import duties or taxes, other than tariffs, that favour domestic firms over foreign competitors
testing, inspection and certification procedures: for example, overly complex assessments to show compliance with technical regulations or standards
unfair use of state help, subsidies or application of competition rules: for example, competition law applied in an unfair way to target foreign firms or protect domestic firms
unfair advantages to state-owned enterprises: for example, special rights or privileges, government funding, or exemptions from laws and regulations being given to state-owned enterprises