Non-Tariff Trade Barriers Flashcards
What examples are there of non-tariff trade barriers?
- Import quotas
- Voluntary export restraints
- Regulations
- Anti-dumping
- Export subsidy
Why have non-tariff barriers increased?
- WTO introduced different barriers in order to reduce tariffs
- Tariffs have decreased over time as many countries are now members of the WTO
What is a quota? and different types
• A quota is a direct quantitative restriction on the amount of a commodity allowed to be imported or exported
- Import quota
- Export quota inc voluntary export restraints
What is an import quota?
Quantitative restriction imposed by an importer country on imports
What is an export quota?
Quantitative restriction imposed by a export country e.g. china had a rare metal so restricted the exports of that metal
Explain the import quota graph
- Quota of 40 units increases domestic price so supply increases and demand falls
- Allows importers to buy at the lower world price and then sell at the quota price which generates a profit
What is the role of a quota rent?
The role of quota rents is similar to the role of tariff
revenue if the government gets the quota rent
What are different forms of quota rent distribution?
- Auction the import licenses in a competitive market. Government gets the revenue
- Government decides the importers and provides the import licenses freely. The importers reap the revenue”.
What are the issues with the distribution of quota rent?
• What are the criteria to select the importers? Efficiency? Connection to governemnt?
-can lead to bribery in getting a license leading to no welfare gain
What are the overall welfare effects of an import quota?
- Producer surplus increase and consumer surplus fall (higher price and less consumption)
- Quota rent is a gain
- Overall net effect is a deadweight loss
What are the main differences between an import quota and a tariff?
- The impacts of a market change
- Quota rent vs tariff revenue
- Trade effects
Explain the impact of market change difference of tariff and quota
For a demand shift:
• For a tariff, domestic price and production stays the same but imports increase
• For a quota, there is an increase in the domestic price and production while the import quantity remains the same (shifts up to a new price)
Explain the Quota rent vs tariff revenue difference of tariff and quota
- Tariff revenue is the revenue of the government
* but quota rent can be distributed differently
Explain the Trade effects difference of tariff and quota
• Import quota limits imports to the specified level with
certainty
• Trade effect of an import tariff may be uncertain (shape or elasticity of demand and supply)
What is an example of an import quota?
The Multifibre Arrangement (MFA)