Abstract:
The article deals with the “shifting goal posts” of some trade barriers in developing countries’ abilities to access global markets. It is possible to view these “technical barriers to trade” — such as product content and packaging requirements, mandatory labelling, sanitary and phytosanitary measures — as more serious impediments to the trade of products from developing countries than duties or quotas. This is because failure to meet these standards effectively bars developing countries from trading in those markets.