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Barriers to trade: Non-tariff barriers

01.07pm 31 October 2017

Trade barriers such as government policies and regulations that favour local suppliers are called non-tariff barriers.


Non-tariff barriers are rules that make it costly or difficult to export to a particular market. You might experience these as ‘red tape, ‘roadblocks’ or ‘costs of doing business’.

The barriers can arise with any type of export from food to digital goods and services.

Find out how Customs and other government agencies can help  reduce or prevent some of these barriers.