ONLINE EVENTS 2025

Explore
November 05, 2023
en lt
Non-tariff measures: their purpose and effect on trade

Adobe Stock

According to UNCTAD, 90 % of global trade is subject to non-tariff measures (NTMs). NTMs can increase trade costs three times as much as tariffs. NTMs often lack transparency. This increases uncertainty and unpredictability in global trade. At the same time, NTMs can be beneficial for international trade, as they guarantee quality through certification, provide information about products through labelling, reflect a commitment to socially important issues through labelling and environmental standards, etc. This article briefly describes what non-tariff measures are, what purpose they fulfil and what impact they have.

OR

Continue reading this article

Comments (0)

Country update
icon
Fur coat? Not in Israel
15-09-2024

The import of furs of wildlife into the State of Israel is under a strict supervision of the Nature and Parks Authority, which is department of the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection. This is part of a larger issue of importing animals or parts of them, but in this article we will focus on the import of furs into Israel. It’s an interesting example, which we believe is not common elsewhere, due to a very specific piece of Israeli law. This law forbids importing wildlife fur, unless they meet the conditions of one of a very few exceptions. One of the key exceptions is fur for religious purposes. The Israeli Customs Authority, which is authorized to supervise imports, serves as the Nature Authority long arm to check the compliance of imports when a shipment containing animal fur arrives in Israel.

Omer Wagner

restrictions, trade barriers
Country update
icon
Fur coat? Not in Israel
15-09-2024

The import of furs of wildlife into the State of Israel is under a strict supervision of the Nature and Parks Authority, which is department of the Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection. This is part of a larger issue of importing animals or parts of them, but in this article we will focus on the import of furs into Israel. It’s an interesting example, which we believe is not common elsewhere, due to a very specific piece of Israeli law. This law forbids importing wildlife fur, unless they meet the conditions of one of a very few exceptions. One of the key exceptions is fur for religious purposes. The Israeli Customs Authority, which is authorized to supervise imports, serves as the Nature Authority long arm to check the compliance of imports when a shipment containing animal fur arrives in Israel.

Omer Wagner

restrictions, trade barriers
Case law
icon
Importing chemicals: CJEU rules who bears the burden of administrative work
10-07-2024

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation is the EU’s main instrument to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. The legislation places a registration obligation on the importer. However, the definitions of the importer and import under the REACH legislation do not align with the customs terminology. The article demonstrates what happens when discrepancies arise.

Dr David Savage

customs clearance, restrictions, trade barriers, import
Case law
icon
Importing chemicals: CJEU rules who bears the burden of administrative work
10-07-2024

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation is the EU’s main instrument to protect human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals. The legislation places a registration obligation on the importer. However, the definitions of the importer and import under the REACH legislation do not align with the customs terminology. The article demonstrates what happens when discrepancies arise.

Dr David Savage

customs clearance, restrictions, trade barriers, import
Topic spotlight
icon
U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and their effects
16-06-2024

On 14 May, U.S. President Joe Biden placed a 100% tariff duty rate on imports of Chinese Electric Vehicles (EVs). The reasoning was that the low cost of Chinese EVs needs to be counterbalanced by tariffs so that domestic manufacturers can compete fairly against Chinese imports. Editors’ note: For developments in the EU, see ‘EU law news June 2024’.

Ira Reese

restrictions, trade barriers
Topic spotlight
icon
U.S. tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and their effects
16-06-2024

On 14 May, U.S. President Joe Biden placed a 100% tariff duty rate on imports of Chinese Electric Vehicles (EVs). The reasoning was that the low cost of Chinese EVs needs to be counterbalanced by tariffs so that domestic manufacturers can compete fairly against Chinese imports. Editors’ note: For developments in the EU, see ‘EU law news June 2024’.

Ira Reese

restrictions, trade barriers
Perspective
icon
CBAM: Practical challenges of implementing novel legislation
04-06-2024

Authors of the article speak about their personal experiences regarding the early days of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). David Savage, based in Ireland, discusses the challenges encountered by importers in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, while Svitlana Siurik as a trade compliance professional, based in Belgium, recounts her experiences from the perspective of a large multinational company.

Dr David Savage , Svitlana Siurik

restrictions, trade barriers, sustainability
Perspective
icon
CBAM: Practical challenges of implementing novel legislation
04-06-2024

Authors of the article speak about their personal experiences regarding the early days of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). David Savage, based in Ireland, discusses the challenges encountered by importers in the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, while Svitlana Siurik as a trade compliance professional, based in Belgium, recounts her experiences from the perspective of a large multinational company.

Dr David Savage , Svitlana Siurik

restrictions, trade barriers, sustainability
Topic spotlight
icon
New General Product Safety Regulation: What should economic operators expect?
16-05-2024

Every year since 2003, the European Commission has published its annual report on Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products. The reports cover the alerts identified during the year and the measures taken by countries to eliminate or minimise the risks. It is worth noting that this system covers not only EU Member States, but also Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In March, the annual report was published for 2023, with a record number of notifications, which emphasises the need to further mobilise efforts and improve tools to improve the safety of goods entering the European market. An important new tool – The General Product Safety Regulation - is discussed in this article.

Anthony Buckley

restrictions, trade barriers
Topic spotlight
icon
New General Product Safety Regulation: What should economic operators expect?
16-05-2024

Every year since 2003, the European Commission has published its annual report on Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-food products. The reports cover the alerts identified during the year and the measures taken by countries to eliminate or minimise the risks. It is worth noting that this system covers not only EU Member States, but also Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. In March, the annual report was published for 2023, with a record number of notifications, which emphasises the need to further mobilise efforts and improve tools to improve the safety of goods entering the European market. An important new tool – The General Product Safety Regulation - is discussed in this article.

Anthony Buckley

restrictions, trade barriers