Introduction to the Special Issue of the World Trade Review on 'standards and non-tariff barriers in trade'

摘要

Standards are increasingly important in international trade. The literature identifies two characteristics of standards which affect trade. On the one hand, they can be trade facilitating by reducing transaction and information costs. On the other hand, they can be trade constraining: many trade economists consider them as non-tariff barriers to trade that may be used with a protectionist motive to replace tariffs and other traditional trade barriers restricted under WTO rules.