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Market Access Trade barriers and Centres of Excellence

Why is Market Access important?

Market Access is the removal of trade barriers and the opening up of new markets and opportunities on the basis of a level playing field for providers and consumers alike where all can compete freely and fairly for the benefit of all.

Increased Market Access is also an important criterion for evaluating the success of the rules-based international trading system. 

A successful Market Access strategy is an essential element in delivering DTI’s aim of prosperity for all.

What is a trade barrier?

Trade barriers come in all shapes and sizes. There are the straightforward traditional tariff barriers  - still some very discriminatory tariffs and taxes – despite 50 years of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the WTO and 9 trade rounds.  There are new and increasingly significant non-tariff barriers, which are varied, difficult and complex as they can touch on sensitive cultural and social issues and can sometimes appeal to very legitimate concerns, e.g, regulatory issues, labelling, standards, piracy,  abuse of intellectual property rights (IPR) and Geographical Indicators, subsidies, trade defence, discriminatory pricing, ad hoc bans and prohibitions and combinations of some of these. They all need different approaches to be overcome.

Trade barriers can also be caused by countries breaching the agreed rules and commitments they have legally entered into, principally those of the WTO or bilateral agreements. This may of course be just poor interpretation or misunderstanding or it may be through more serious intent. 

In some cases there may be barriers which are not breaches of any specific rules that we can identify. In these instances we may then enter into a bilateral discussion about the problems with the countries concerned with the aim of finding a mutually beneficial solution. At the other end of the scale we may only be able to identify a problem that needs addressing through development of the WTO rules in which case we may have to await a WTO investigation and Agreement to address the problem.

What can we do to remove such barriers?

In the first instance we may pursue the matter informally and bilaterally with the country concerned via our overseas posts.  If this proves unsuccessful we will involve and work with our colleagues in the Commission. We then  put the problem on the Commission’s Market Access Database.

If the problem persists the Commission’s Trade Barrier Regulation may be invoked. In this procedure the matter is investigated and solutions proposed and in many cases the issues are resolved or the problem considerably lessened. In some cases, of course, the matter may have to be taken to the WTO Dispute Settlement Procedure.

But to help resolve problems we need to know about them as fully and as soon as possible. It is a two-way process - we need information from industry if we are able to help solve problems, while industry needs a professional and speedy service from us. We are always trying to develop the most joined-up approach possible in collecting, collating and dealing with that information, and we are constantly trying to improve at this. We work with others such as SITPRO and the Patent Office, other Government Departments and of course our posts abroad who can all play a vital role in many different ways and we in the Market Access Centre of Excellence are in regular contact  with all these to help resolve cases.

Even though trade barriers are many, varied and often difficult to resolve, the good news is that the need for more progress on their removal and market access is common ground among all WTO members and all parties involved in free and fair trade - despite problems on other fronts. Getting rid of market barriers is the bread and butter of world trade.

The DTI's Market Access Centre of Excellence

Is responsible for policy advice and co-ordinating action on combating barriers to trade in non-European Union (EU) countries, such as discriminatory taxation on products, intellectual property right abuse, non-compliance with other World Trade Organisation (WTO) or bilateral obligations and many other factors which may disadvantage our exporters. The Centre is the first port of call for exporters facing trade barriers in their markets.

The Centre employs a strategic approach when prioritising its work. Meetings with key sectors of UK industry are arranged regularly to identify priority trade barriers and any other trade policy concerns and interests they may wish to discuss. Our objective is that the prioritisation and pursuit of such cases take full account of UK interests. In doing so we closely co-ordinate with the industries concerned, colleagues across DTI, agencies such as the Patent Office, other Government Departments (DEFRA, the Department of Health, DCMS, etc.) who may have a specific responsibility or policy interest as well as our Posts abroad. A further input is the priorities identified by UK Trade & Investment and DTI’s Business Relations Group.

Guarding against unfair treatment and avoidance of other market access barriers are also key features of our approach to negotiations with countries wishing to join the WTO or the EU, or for countries entering into bilateral agreements with the EU. As in other trade policy matters, the Centre works closely within the framework of the EU's Common Commercial Policy. Opportunities are also taken, as appropriate, in bilateral contacts with the countries concerned.

An important instrument of the EU Market Access Strategy is the EU Market Access Database which as well as listing applicable tariffs in overseas markets, contains information on cases of trade barriers world-wide. As well as being a tool for helping identify and remove barriers the Database is useful for exporters wanting to check the situation by product, sector or country and for identifying the possible significance of such barriers. For EU governments it provides a valuable tool for prioritising the urgency and manner in which such barriers can be tackled. The Database is now being developed further through the creation of the Exporters' Guide to Import Formalities in key markets.

Another important instrument of the EU is the Trade Barriers Regulation which authorises the European Commission to investigate complaints about violations of international trade rules and propose solutions to eliminate obstacles to trade.

The Centre represents the UK in the advisory committees established by the Commission for both instruments. If your company is experiencing a trade barrier in a non EU-market or if you need more information on the work of the Centre please contact:

John Lane                                      
Tel: 020 7215 5402                          
Fax: 020 7215 2234                         
E-mail: john.lane@dti.gsi.gov.uk          

Paul Elford
Tel: 020 7215 5430
Fax: 020 7215 2234
E-mail: paul.elford@dti.gsi.gov.uk