Technical Barriers to Trade: Highlights of ERS Workshop, October 8-9, 1997

Abstract

Technical barriers to trade are becoming an increasingly important (and controversial) area of agricultural trade policy. This paper reports on a workshop held at ERS on technical barriers. The workshop examined analysis and research done on the topic in 1997, and identified areas for future research. Issues examined include identification and classification of technical barriers to trade; the reasons they exist; their effect on agricultural production, consumption, trade, and economic welfare; and policy response to such barriers.