Tariff and non-tariff obstacles to United States imports

Abstract

The article deals with the obstacles to importing to the United States. Recent developments and future plans for tariffs are briefly reviewed and the major non-tariff obstacles, which exporters often consider more irksome than customs duties, are analysed. The author first looks at the scope and problems of Tariff Simplification, now in progress. The revision of valuation standards by the U.S. Treasury are then discussed. Two major obstacles, administrative burdens and tariff changes, are then dealt with. In the latter category recent developments, such as the “national security” argument and self-imposed export restrictions are discussed. The author concludes by sketching the outlook for U.S. trade policy.

JEL: F10, F13