The Course “Non-tariff Measures to Trade” taught by EENI Global Business School
consists of two modules:
According to the definition of the UNCTAD,
the
Non-tariff measures are:
“... Those political measures, different from the Customs tariffs, that can economically affect on foreign trade in good, modifying Export prices,
transactions, or both.”
The Non-tariff measures can distort foreign trade, and even harm
exporters, importers, companies, and even the final consumer.
Any agent of the value chains of the foreign trade (exporter, importer, distributor, customs or logistics agent, consultant...) must know how to identify these measures and know the possible impact they may have.
The UNCTAD proposes a classification of the different types of
measures (16 chapters).
Technical measures:
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS);
- Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT);
- Pre-shipment Inspection and other formalities.
Non-technical measures:
- Contingent trade-protective measures;
- Non-automatic licensing, quotas, prohibitions and quantity-control measures
other than Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT);
- Price-control measures, including additional taxes and charges;
- Finance measures;
- Measures affecting the competition;
- Foreign Trade-related investment measures;
- Distribution restrictions in a market;
- Restrictions on post-sales services;
- Subsidies (excluding export subsidies);
- Government procurement restrictions in a certain market;
- Measures related to Intellectual Property;
- Rules of origin.
Finance Measures
They are all those non-tariff measures whose objective is to regulate access to foreign currency for imports. They increase the import cost.
- Advance payment requirements. They can be: advanced import deposit, cash
requirement, advance payment of the customs duties, refundable deposit;
- Multiple exchange rates;
- Official currency allocation. Bank authorization (Central Bank of the country of the importer). licenses linked to unofficial currencies;
- Regulations concerning terms of payment for imports (import credit and financing).
Measures affecting the competition (special preferences or privileges).
- State-trading enterprises;
- Compulsory use of national services (transport, insurance).
Trade-related investment measures:
- Measures of local content (minimum quantity of product manufactured in the country of the importer);
- Trade balancing measures (import restriction).
Distribution restrictions (obtaining licenses or certification,
distribution services regulations).
- Geographical restrictions;
- Restrictions for certain resellers.
Restrictions related to post-sales services
Subsidies
Government procurement restrictions (preference to national suppliers).
Intellectual Property (patents, trademarks, copyright...).
Rules of origin
Export-related measures:
- Export-license, quota and prohibition restrictions (include investments)
- Export prohibitions;
- Export quotas (quotas);
- License requirements (permission, authorization) to export;
- Export registration requirements.
- Exports of state companies;
- Export price-control measures;
- Measures on re-exports (cross-border trade);
- Export taxes and charges;
- Export technical measures (technical specifications, conformity assessment)
- Inspection requirement (Quality control);
- Certification required by the exporting country.
- Export subsidies;
- Export Credits.
Source: “International Classification of Non-tariff Measures” (UNCTAD).
Customs and WTO.