The impact of EU and US agro-food nontariff measures on exports from developing countries

Aim of the paper is to appraise the impact of EU and US agro-food non tariff measures on agro-food exports from African, Asian, Ocenian and South-American developing countries. After an inventory description of these measures, a gravity model is estimated and the impact of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on agro-food exports from developing countries assessed. Results indicate substantial differences in the structure and distribution of NTMs at the US and EU borders. Technical requirements on quality product attributes have a detrimental impact on agro-food imports in the EU from developing country, while in the US, a trade creation effect dominates. US and EU no-tec NTMs have a negative impact at both borders. However, the estimated effect of the EU measures is more severe than the one at the US border. Looking at specific agro-food products, NTMs penalize meat products, cereals and their derivates, and vegetables and fruits, more than others. The differences in the effects of NTMs on agro-food trade flows at the two borders suggest that developing countries would greatly benefit from bilateral negotiations rather than from multilateral agreements.