Publication

This paper examines the evidence concerning technical barriers to trade and identifies their importance to trade between the EU and Central and Eastern Europe Countries (CEECs). The authors use two alternative data sources: firstly, sectoral indicators of the presence of technical barriers and the particular approach to their removal adopted in the EU; and secondly, a transcription of EU directives in terms of their coverage of detailed products. By doing this, the authors explore the similarity of each CEEC's exports to and imports from the EU of products subject to technical regulations in the EU.