Handelsregimes

Handelsregimes are the set of rules and practices that govern a country's or a group of countries' international trade. They determine how goods and services cross borders and under what conditions, including market access, pricing, and regulatory requirements. Handelsregimes can be unilateral, bilateral, regional, or multilateral, and they often reflect broader economic and development objectives.

Core instruments include tariff regimes (tariffs and tariff-rate quotas); non-tariff measures such as quotas, licensing, and standards; rules of origin; export subsidies and domestic support; and measures affecting services and investment. In addition, many regimes establish dispute-settlement and enforcement mechanisms, transparency requirements, and rules to protect intellectual property and investment.

Historically, trade regimes evolved from mercantilist restrictions to liberalization, culminating in the GATT (1947) and the World Trade Organization (1995). Regional and bilateral regimes have proliferated through preferential agreements. Notable examples: the European Union's common external tariff; regional blocs such as NAFTA/USMCA, ASEAN, and CPTPP.

Impacts of Handelsregimes are debated. They create trade creation and protection effects, influence price levels, and affect domestic industries and development. Critics point to fragmentation, complexity, and transparency challenges, while proponents argue regimes provide policy space and predictable rules. Measurement approaches include tariff averages, coverage ratios, and indices of trade restrictiveness.