Unpacking Non-Tariff Barriers in the Middle East

In thinking about protectionist trade policies, research has predominantly focused on the role of tariff barriers. However, as recent literature has suggested, many of the region’s labour-abundant economies are especially burdened by non-tariff barriers (NTBs). These barriers are essentially complicated trade frictions caused by arbitrary regulations, procedures, and a variety of discretionary controls that are both hard to measure and evaluate. Their importance in political economy terms is, however, well recognized. This proposal seeks to enhance the understanding of the politics of trade protection in the Middle East; exploring both their determinants and impact.