NON-TARIFF MEASURES AND INDUSTRIAL NATION IMPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

Trade coverage ratios were calculated to assess the 1989 incidence of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on imports of agricultural products by major industrial nations. Overall, 36 percent of all food items were found to be covered by one or more NTM in the European Community. Corresponding figures for Japan and the United States were 59 and 17 percent, respectively. Imports of agricultural products confront a wide variety of NTMs in markets of industrial nations. Results of the analysis were used to shed light on prospects for reaching agreements on agricultural reform issues in the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiation