<4.2.5 ADMIN BARRIERS>

1) Whenever a good is imported from another country, it must go through a number of customs procedures involving INSPECTIONS, VALUATION (determining the value of the good), and others. In an effort to impose obstacles to imports and reduce their quantity, countries may increase the amount of RED-TAPE CHECKS and procedures, making them very TIME-CONSUMING and DIFFICULT. 

2) In addition, importing countries can impose requirements that imported goods MUST BE PACKAGED IN A PARTICULAR WAY. Since exporters do not always fulfill the requirements, the quantity of imports is reduced. 

3) Further, many countries impose requirements that imported goods must FULFIL PARTICULAR TECHNICAL STANDARDS, which involve HEALTH, SAFETY, and ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. In many cases, these standards automatically eliminate a range of imports. 

4) In other cases, certain products must UNDERGO TESTING and INSPECTION PROCEDURES that are so COSTLY and TIME-CONSUMING that once again the effect is to reduce the quantity of imports. 

5) In some cases, the imposition of such standards is justified by governments’ concern for the health and safety of the domestic population, as well as possible negative environmental effects of imported goods. However, it is generally believed that the excessive use of these kinds of measures by governments is a disguised attempt to limit imports, and therefore is a kind of trade protection.