produktkvote

A produktkvote, or product quota, is a policy instrument that imposes a fixed limit on the quantity of a specific product that may be produced domestically or imported during a defined period. Quotas can target different stages of the supply chain, with production quotas limiting output and import quotas restricting the amount of a product that can enter a country.

Quotas are typically allocated through licenses or permits issued by a government. In some systems the rights to produce or import can be tradable, creating a market for quota rights, while in others they are non-tradable and assigned to selected producers or importers. Quotas are often product-specific and time-bound, with annual or seasonal caps.

The main purposes of produktkvoter include protecting domestic industries from surges in competition, stabilizing prices and domestic supply, and managing the use of scarce resources or environmental concerns. They can also be used to support strategic industries or to implement international trade commitments. However, quotas can distort markets, raise consumer prices, and invite rent-seeking or corruption if poorly designed or poorly enforced. They may also reduce overall welfare compared to more flexible policy tools like tariffs or market-based instruments.

Examples of produktkvoter can be found in agricultural and food policy, where many regions historically used production or import quotas for products such as sugar and dairy. Some systems have phased out quotas in favor of alternative regimes, while others retain targeted quotas to manage supply or protect specific sectors.

See also: tariff-rate quota, license, quota rights, production quota, import quota.