Publication

Using a gravity model of international trade flows, this paper seeks to estimate the extent to which the EU approach to technical harmonization has affected the pattern of bilateral trade flows of individual EU countries. The paper describes the EU policy with regard to the removal of technical trade barriers and introduces the used empirical approach, data and results. Subsequently, the paper discusses the interpretation of the estimated border effects and presents the final results. The paper finds substantial border effects for all groups of sectors except for those subject to mutual recognition.