The Relevance of Non-tariff Barriers to Regional Trade: Experiences of South African Exporters

Abstract

Obstacles to exports come in various shapes and sizes. Traditional obstacles like tariffs and quotas are easily identifiable, while non-tariff barriers range from the obvious, like domestic content requirements and border taxes and subsidies, to the obscure, like administrative regulations and the altering of procedures. In addition, there is the dynamics of the economic, political and cultural environment within which export is taking place. Export performance could be improved when there is a public understanding of the relevance of existing barriers to trade. This paper aims to identify and measure obstacles to South African exports to countries of the South African Development Community (SADC), a regional group located in the southern tip of Africa. It reviews the general nature of obstacles, non-tariff barriers in particular, and points at inherent obstacles in South Africa and SADC countries. It furthermore assesses the nature and size of obstacles as experienced by South African exporters.