Trade Barrier refers to various measures taken by a government to restrict the import of foreign goods or services, aiming to protect domestic industries, safeguard national security, or achieve other policy objectives. Common forms include tariff barriers (such as import duties) and non-tariff barriers (such as quotas, licenses, technical standards, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, anti-dumping, etc.). Usage scenarios are mostly seen in international trade negotiations, compliance reviews, and market access analysis. Notes: Enterprises need to monitor the dynamics of trade barriers in target markets, as they may increase costs, delay customs clearance, or even prohibit imports; also distinguish trade barriers from trade protectionism—the former are specific measures, the latter is a policy tendency. Opposite to 'trade facilitation', which aims to reduce barriers. Understanding trade barriers helps enterprises formulate market strategies, utilize free trade agreement preferences, or conduct overseas investment to circumvent them.
📝 Examples
1. Because the EU imposed high anti-dumping duties on Chinese photovoltaic products, this trade barrier caused our export costs to rise by 30%. (Illustrates the impact of anti-dumping duties as a trade barrier on costs)
2. Before entering the US market, we need to assess whether its technical regulations and certification requirements constitute trade barriers to avoid goods being detained. (Illustrates compliance risks of technical standards as non-tariff barriers)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
Foreign trade terms are the foundation of international business communication
Trade practices may vary slightly by country; pay attention when using them
When using terms in contracts, specify the applicable version (e.g., Incoterms 2020)
For unfamiliar terms, use GlobalSync's multilingual email helper to confirm with your partner