Understanding Canada-China Food Trade: Behind-the-Border Barriers

Abstract

This study seeks to provide information for policymakers and government, in order to enable them to gain an understanding of behind the border trade barriers for food exports to China, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing food markets. These barriers, which virtually all countries have, are also known as non-tariff trade barriers, non-tariff measures or technical barriers to trade. Following the paper’s introduction, background on China’s food trade is discussed, followed by identification of non-tariff food trade barriers in China, evaluation of non-tariff barriers, costs of non-tariff trade barriers and a summary. Ten steps are then suggested that Canadian stakeholders may wish to consider in order to enhance food exports, and to cope with non-tariff trade barriers for food in China.