Reports and Indices

Report on Non-Tariff Barriers and Tariff Barriers

May 12 , 2026 16 hrs 0 min 21 0

UN Trade and Development released the report “Invisible Barriers: The Costs of Non-Tariff Measures”, stating that Non-Tariff Measures now cost more than tariffs for most countries.
Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) include rules like technical standards, quality checks, safety norms, and certification requirements in trade.
The report says NTMs impose higher export costs than tariffs for about 88% of countries.
Developing countries face a double burden of tariff duties and high compliance costs for meeting complex trade regulations.
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) lose around 10% of exports to G20 countries due to a lack of testing facilities and certification systems.
Global trade negotiations are now focusing more on regulatory simplification rather than only reducing tariffs.