Trade barrier

[2] Tariffs have been declining in the last twenty years as the influence of the World Trade Organization has grown, but states have increased their use of non-tariff barriers.

[2] According to Chad Bown and Meredith Crowley, world trade is "probably" vastly more liberal in current times than was the case historically.

[6] They also write, "during the mercantilist era price gaps were as likely to be due to trade monopolies, pirates, and wars as to transport costs and tariffs, which are more easily quantifiable.

Because rich-countries are able to set trade policies, goods, such as crops that developing countries are best at producing, still face high barriers.

Trade barriers are mostly a combination of conformity and per-shipment requirements requested abroad, and weak inspection or certification procedures at home.

[9] Another negative aspect of trade barriers is that they result in a limited choice of products and would therefore force customers to pay higher prices and accept inferior quality.