Kinzius et al dig through theĀ Global Trade Alert database, which features wonderful visualizations of trade interventions (positive liberalizations and negative tariff measures).
Number of newly implemented protectionist interventions by type, 2009 – 2017
Note: Numbers in the bars represent a rise in protection by specific policies: we count the change in tariff increases (tariff changes), newly introduced anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard measures (trade defense), and newly introduced non-tariff barriers (non-tariff barriers) e.g. new national regulations.
Source: GTA.
Figure 2 illustrates that over the past years tariffs were not the major trade policy tool to protect domestic economies. Instead, NTBs have been most often applied. Since 2009, only 20% of all implemented protectionist interventions could be attributed to an increase in tariffs. In contrast, NTBs accounted for on average 55% of the implemented protectionist interventions.
Number of NTBs imposed by country, 2009-2017
