Hidden Protectionism? Evidence from Non-tariff Barriers to Trade in the United States

Arbeitspapier

Are product standards protectionism in disguise? This paper estimates the costs of non-compliance with U.S. product standards, using a new database on U.S. import refusals from 2002 to 2012. We find that import refusals significantly decrease exports to the United States. This trade reducing effect is driven by developing countries and by refusals without any product sample analysis, in particular during the Subprime Crisis and its aftermath. This empirical result is consistent with (but does not prove) the existence of counter-cyclical, hidden protectionism due to non-tariff barriers to trade in the United States.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: CESifo Working Paper ; No. 5142

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations ; Empirical Studies of Trade ; Development Planning and Policy: Trade Policy; Factor Movement; Foreign Exchange Policy ; Economic Impacts of Globalization: Economic Development
• Subject: hidden protectionism ; international trade ; developing countries ; import refusals ; regulatory costs ; disaggregated ; United States

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Grundke, Robert ; Moser, Christoph
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo)
• (where): Munich
• (when): 2014

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/107371
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET