BulletsIn

• United Nations Conference on Trade and Development released its latest report titled Invisible Barriers: The Costs of Non-Tariff Measures highlighting growing trade restrictions worldwide.
• The report stated that non-tariff barriers now create higher export costs than customs duties for nearly 88 percent of global economies.
• Non-tariff measures include product standards, sanitary rules, import licensing systems, technical regulations, and administrative compliance procedures imposed during international trade.
• Developing and least-developed countries are facing the biggest impact because exporters often struggle to meet expensive regulatory and technical requirements.
• According to the report, least-developed countries lose nearly 10 percent of their exports to G20 markets due to non-compliance with trade standards.
• World Trade Organization participation by poorer nations remains weak, limiting their ability to challenge unfair trade barriers and regulatory restrictions globally.
• Global tariff rates also increased sharply in 2025, with developed countries seeing a 10 percent rise and least-developed countries witnessing an 18 percent increase.
• The report linked the rise in restrictive trade policies to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and new tariff measures introduced by the United States.
• UNCTAD estimated that improving transparency in non-tariff regulations could reduce international trade compliance costs by nearly 19 percent worldwide.
• The report further highlighted that stronger cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area could significantly reduce agricultural and manufacturing trade costs.