Red-tape barriers (RTBs) are an important source of trade costs, but have received little scholarly attention to date. Here we examine the economic-political determinants of RTBs and their effects on trade. Because of their wasteful nature, RTBs have very different implications from those of...

This paper reviews progress towards a new trade agreement under the Doha Development Agenda. A hitherto-unnoticed empirical regularity suggests that post-Cancun pessimism may be unwarranted. Some of the key contentious issues are examined, including agricultural and manufacturing trade barriers,...