A Meta-Analysis of Estimates of the Impact of Technical Barriers to Trade

A meta-analysis explains the variation in estimated trade effects of technical barriersto trade broadly defined, using available estimates from the empirical international tradeliterature, and accounting for data sampling and methodology differences. Agriculture and foodindustries tend to be more impeded by these barriers than other sectors. SPS regulations onagricultural trade flows from developing exporters to high-income importers tend to impedetrade. Controlling for “multilateral resistance” lowers the propensity to find that these policiesimpede trade. Estimations correcting endogeneity by using panel data and time fixed effect yieldmore negative (or less positive) trade effects of technical measures.[...]