Alt 2: Removing Barriers To Trade
Alt 2: Removing Barriers To Trade
Alt 2: Removing Barriers To Trade
Market Access is the removal of trade barriers and the opening up of new markets and
opportunities on the basis of a level playing field for providers and consumers alike
where all can compete freely and fairly for the benefit of all.
Increased Market Access is also an important criterion for evaluating the success of the
rules-based international trading system.
A successful Market Access strategy is an essential element in delivering free and fair
markets with greater competition for business, consumers and employees.
Trade barriers come in all shapes and sizes. There are the straightforward traditional
tariff barriers - still some very discriminatory tariffs and taxes despite 50 years of the
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the WTO and 9 trade rounds. There
are new and increasingly significant non-tariff barriers, which are varied, difficult and
complex as they can touch on sensitive cultural and social issues and can sometimes
appeal to very legitimate concerns, e.g., regulatory issues, labelling, standards, piracy,
abuse of intellectual property rights (IPR) and Geographical Indicators, subsidies, trade
defence, discriminatory pricing, ad hoc bans and prohibitions and combinations of some
of these. They all need different approaches to be overcome.
In some cases there may be barriers which are not breaches of any specific rules that
we can identify. In these instances we may then enter into a bilateral discussion about
the problems with the countries concerned with the aim of finding a mutually beneficial
solution
Even though trade barriers are many, varied and often difficult to resolve, the good news
is that the need for more progress on their removal and market access is common
ground among all WTO members and all parties involved in free and fair trade - despite
problems on other fronts. Getting rid of market barriers is the bread and butter of world
trade.