Administrative Barriers
Types of Trade Protection
AO3
Syllabus requirement
Non-tariff barriers such as regulations and product standards that can restrict imports and protect domestic industries.
Assessment objectives
AO3 Synthesis and Evaluation
Summary
Administrative barriers are bureaucratic standards, rules and policies imposed on foreign firms to restrict imports and protect domestic producers and consumers. They raise the cost or delay the entry of foreign goods through regulations such as safety, environmental or content checks, and include measures like embargoes and exchange controls. These measures can benefit domestic firms but often reduce consumer choice, raise prices and provoke retaliation. Understanding administrative barriers is important for evaluating the economic trade-offs of protectionism.
