Hidden Protectionism: Non-Tariff Barriers and Implications for International Trade

The global economic crisis in 2008 triggered a debate about increasing protectionism. Global leaders are increasingly under pressure to protect their domestic industries. The scope to increase tariffs is rather limited under the WTO regulations. In this study we analyze whether the latter developments might have led to an increasing usage of non-tariff barriers as protectionist instruments. The study exploits the level of hidden protectionism since 2009. It builds on a recently updated version of the Global Trade Alert database.