A basic definition of trade barriers would refer to all factors that may influence how many goods and services are shipped across international borders (Feenstra and Taylor 2017a). This definition is quite neutral, and it needs to be understood that the word “barrier” has a negative connotation, which means that a trade barrier would be any instrument that limits or restrict trade between countries, as opposed to free trade. It is generally accepted that free trade is good for productivity and economic growth, but it is also true that most countries apply some sort of trade restriction, for different reasons.
Since the end of World War II and up to very recently, the world has experienced high levels of trade liberalization, which is defined as “a move towards freer trade through the reduction of tariff and other barriers” (Lee 2005). Also up to recent times, it has been widely recognized that trade liberalization can stimulate economic growth, job creation.
