How Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers Can Affect Your Exports

Tariff and non-tariff barriers can affect your exportallows local manufacturers to offer lower prices as
business. In most countries, the governments imposecompared to the imported items (still the customers
these trade barriers and the general purpose behindare paying more than what they should be paying for
them is to limit (or sometimes totally ban) thethis quality).
imports of some specific product. By imposing tradeNon-Tariff Barriers:
barriers, the governments are looking to achieveAll other restrictions on trade except tariffs are
some or all of these economic targets.known as non-tariff barriers. These rules, regulations
" Encouraging domestic productionor policies are used for the same purposes (i.e. to
" Protecting local employeesrestrict imports and protect local industries), however
" Increasing revenuesthey cannot raise any revenue for the host country.
" Reducing consumption and reliance on exportsSome of the common non-tariff barriers are quotas,
Whether they are able to achieve these targets orquality standards, complex regulations, import license
not, one thing is for sure, these trade barriers areor import bans.
going to hurt your business, if you are looking toBoth tariff and non-tariff barriers can ultimately hurt
export to that country. Read a little to get an idea ofthe national economy in the longer run, they provide
what tariff and non-tariff barriers are.shield to even those under performing industries and
Tariff:manufacturers who are not competitive at all, hence
In simple words, this is the tax imposed on importedwasting the country resources and hurting
goods. In most cases the tax is collected at theconsumers. World Trade Organization has been
moment some shipment arrives at ports.established in order to lower trade barriers all over
Governments normally force tariffs (or excise duty)the world, and to improve transparency and
to protect local industries and to raise their revenues,non-discrimination in international trade. 153 members
although many economists have debated against it.have joined till now, although no member country has
According to them these methods are faulty,shown total commitment in implementing rules and
because in the end it's the consumer who suffers atregulations that are decided at various conferences.
the hand of high prices and inflation. As an exporterStill as an international exporter you should try to
you'd be better off going for some country withtarget those foreign market where imports are not
minimum tariffs because you will loose the low costdiscouraged in government policies.
advantage once you have to pay these taxes. Tariff