CALL FOR PAPERS
3rd International Conference on International Trade and Investment
Special Conference Theme:
'Non-tariff measures, the new frontier of trade policy?'
4-6 September 2013, Mauritius
Organized by the University of Mauritius (UoM) and the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP)
Even though import tariffs have declined globally owing to the demands from the multilateral rounds negotiations and the proliferating preferential agreements, Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) have risen significantly in recent years and have become a concern for competitiveness. While many of the NTMs have been designed to achieve legitimate goals such as protecting public health and the environment, they can impede trade via impaired competitiveness because they constrain the ability of firms to outsource key inputs, complicate day-to-day business and distract managerial attention. Firm surveys highlight private-sector demands for more transparency in the adoption and application of NTMs across countries. Furthermore, most studies on the impact of African and other regional initiatives have highlighted the negative dimensions of NTMs adopted by individual members to the various RTAs and which are significantly hampering any trade creating potential.
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