Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA

Both classical and neo-classical economists have long held the convention that free trade is a significant generator of welfare of nations. Despite, the exploitation and discriminatory application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) as some form of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), which are an alternative to...

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Main Authors: Stein Masunda, Gabriel Mhonyera, Daniel Francois Meyer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Johannesburg 2025-08-01
Series:The Thinker
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/4427
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author Stein Masunda
Gabriel Mhonyera
Daniel Francois Meyer
author_facet Stein Masunda
Gabriel Mhonyera
Daniel Francois Meyer
author_sort Stein Masunda
collection DOAJ
description Both classical and neo-classical economists have long held the convention that free trade is a significant generator of welfare of nations. Despite, the exploitation and discriminatory application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) as some form of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), which are an alternative to tariffs, has substantially expanded and is persistently constraining the path towards absolute free trade. This growing incidence has invoked the recognition of the compelling need to enhance the transparency of existing NTMs and promote research on their impact in developing countries as well as within and outside regional groupings such as COMESA. This study employs the gravity model to study the effects of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) measures on intra-COMESA exports. The findings indicate that NTMs have diverse effects on exports within the COMESA region. On one end, SPS measures are export enhancing whilst TBT measures negatively affect intra-COMESA agricultural export volumes. Given the results of this research, COMESA members are encouraged to reduce the application of TBT measures in order to stimulate exports within the bloc, and to expand the application of SPS measures so as to promote the trade in agricultural products.
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spelling doaj-art-62be78d863f440b4b8f2b7bbec032d682025-08-20T03:59:36ZengUniversity of JohannesburgThe Thinker2075-24582616-907X2025-08-01103210.36615/xbshp826Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESAStein Masunda0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0751-4066Gabriel Mhonyera1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2957-000XDaniel Francois Meyer2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6715-7545Midlands State UniversityUniversity of JohannesburgUniversity of Johannesburg Both classical and neo-classical economists have long held the convention that free trade is a significant generator of welfare of nations. Despite, the exploitation and discriminatory application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) as some form of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), which are an alternative to tariffs, has substantially expanded and is persistently constraining the path towards absolute free trade. This growing incidence has invoked the recognition of the compelling need to enhance the transparency of existing NTMs and promote research on their impact in developing countries as well as within and outside regional groupings such as COMESA. This study employs the gravity model to study the effects of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) measures on intra-COMESA exports. The findings indicate that NTMs have diverse effects on exports within the COMESA region. On one end, SPS measures are export enhancing whilst TBT measures negatively affect intra-COMESA agricultural export volumes. Given the results of this research, COMESA members are encouraged to reduce the application of TBT measures in order to stimulate exports within the bloc, and to expand the application of SPS measures so as to promote the trade in agricultural products. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/4427COMESAfree tradegravity modelnon-technical measuresNTMsTBT
spellingShingle Stein Masunda
Gabriel Mhonyera
Daniel Francois Meyer
Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA
The Thinker
COMESA
free trade
gravity model
non-technical measures
NTMs
TBT
title Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA
title_full Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA
title_fullStr Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA
title_full_unstemmed Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA
title_short Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA
title_sort effects of non tariff measures on agricultural export performance in comesa
topic COMESA
free trade
gravity model
non-technical measures
NTMs
TBT
url https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/4427
work_keys_str_mv AT steinmasunda effectsofnontariffmeasuresonagriculturalexportperformanceincomesa
AT gabrielmhonyera effectsofnontariffmeasuresonagriculturalexportperformanceincomesa
AT danielfrancoismeyer effectsofnontariffmeasuresonagriculturalexportperformanceincomesa