trade barriers

Trade barriers are government policies or regulations that restrict the free flow of goods and services between countries.

These include tariffs (taxes on imports), quotas (limits on quantities), and various non-tariff barriers like licensing requirements, product standards, or bureaucratic delays.

Countries impose trade barriers to protect domestic industries from foreign competition, preserve jobs, or address national security concerns.

The new trade barriers made it nearly impossible for small exporters to compete.

Economists generally argue that while trade barriers may benefit specific industries, they tend to raise prices for consumers and reduce overall economic efficiency.