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Assessing non-tariff barriers in Syria

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  • Chemingui, Mohamed Abdelbasset
  • Dessus, Sébastien

Abstract

International trade in Syria is highly regulated through a combination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers. At 8% of the value of imports on average, effective tariffs are relatively low. However, non-tariff barriers to trade actually make Syria's trade restrictiveness very high. Comparing world and domestic prices of imports indeed suggests that non-tariff barriers increase the domestic price of imported goods by 17% on average, notably the result of significant quantitative restrictions. Using a computable general equilibrium model, the costs of NTBs on the Syrian economy are assessed. Simulations suggest that reallocation gains resulting from a complete removal of NTBs could be substantial. Accordingly, the key message from the analysis is that trade reform if it focuses only on tariff reduction will have limited growth benefits. On the contrary, if the Government abolishes the widespread non-tariff barriers to trade, including the elimination of quantitative trade restrictions, trade policy can become the central instrument to redress Syria's growth prospects.

Suggested Citation

  • Chemingui, Mohamed Abdelbasset & Dessus, Sébastien, 2008. "Assessing non-tariff barriers in Syria," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 917-928.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:30:y:2008:i:5:p:917-928
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    2. Soon, Byung Min & Thompson, Wyatt, 2020. "Non-tariff barrier on chicken imports into Russia: Impact on production, trade and prices," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 583-596.
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    4. Lim, Jamus Jerome & Saborowski, Christian, 2010. "Estimates of trade-related adjustment costs in Syria," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 843-864, November.
    5. Chin, Lee & Che Rusli, AK, 2015. "The Determinants of Non-Tariff Barriers: The Role of WTO Membership," MPRA Paper 96864, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    7. Chin, Lee & Yousefi, Abdolaziz, 2017. "Non-Tariff Barriers and Their Effect on Export: Evidence from 5 ASEAN Countries," MPRA Paper 118781, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Soon, Byung Min & Thompson, Wyatt, 2016. "Measuring Non-Tariff Barriers by Combining Cointegration Tests and Simulation Models with an Application to Russian Chicken Imports," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235738, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
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    10. Yuan Li & John C. Beghin, 2017. "A meta-analysis of estimates of the impact of technical barriers to trade," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: John Christopher Beghin (ed.), Nontariff Measures and International Trade, chapter 4, pages 63-77, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
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    12. Marco Fugazza, 2013. "The Economics Behind Non-Tariff Measures: Theoretical Insights And Empirical Evidence," UNCTAD Blue Series Papers 57, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    13. Arfini, Filippo & Aghabeygi, Mona, 2018. "Evaluation of Welfare Effects of Rising Price of Food Imports in Italy," 162nd Seminar, April 26-27, 2018, Budapest, Hungary 271953, European Association of Agricultural Economists.
    14. Winchester, Niven, 2009. "Is there a dirty little secret? Non-tariff barriers and the gains from trade," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 819-834, November.
    15. Omid Karami & Mina Mahmoudi, 2018. "Estimating Trade-Related Adjustment Costs in the Agricultural Sector in Iran," Papers 1806.04238, arXiv.org.
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