UNCTAD UPDATE TO THE TBT COMMITTEE

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE

This document contains information provided by UNCTAD for consideration at the TBT Committee meeting of 25‑27 June 2025 under Agenda Item 7.a on Updates by Observers.

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1  Data highlights

1.1.  New or updated countries covered in the TRAINS non-tariff measures (NTMs) database since November 2024:

·_        Zimbabwe (update)

·_        Malawi (update)

·_        South Africa (update)

·_        Timor Leste (new)

·_        Argentina (update)

·_        Bolivia (update)

·_        Brazil (update)

·_        Chile (update)

·_        Colombia (update)

·_        Costa Rica (update)

·_        Cuba (update)

·_        Ecuador (update)

·_        El Salvador (update)

·_        Guatemala (update)

·_        Honduras (update)

·_        Mexico (update)

·_        Nicaragua (update)

·_        Panama (update)

·_        Paraguay (update)

·_        Peru (update)

·_        Uruguay (update)

·_        Venezuela (update)

1.2.  Non-tariff measures (NTM) data updates are ongoing in "ASEAN+6" (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam as well as Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and New Zealand). A first-time data collection is ongoing in the Parties of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo^[1], and Serbia). In addition, non-tariff measures are currently being collected for the first time in several Pacific Small Island Developing States (Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue and Palau).

1.3.  All data collected by UN Trade and Development and its many partners is gathered in the TRAINS database. Through the database, users can freely search and access data by applying filters such as affected economies, product HS 6-digit codes and type of measure. Full text regulations are also accessible through TRAINS.

1.4.  To inform policymakers and help traders move goods across borders, UN Trade and Development has developed a dissemination portal for data on NTMs and worked with partners on other portals. The three main portals are as follows:

·_        TRAINS dissemination portal at https://trainsonline.unctad.org – for policy makers

·_        World Integrated Trade Solution at https://wits.worldbank.org – for researchers

·_        Global Trade Help Desk https://globaltradehelpdesk.org – for the private sector

2  Publication highlights

2.1.  Making sense of non-tariff measures: A user's guide to accessing and analysing the data (2024): Available in five UN official languages, this publication explains the data collection method used for the TRAINS non-tariff measures database, which also includes TBT. It provides practical examples of how different users, such as traders, policymakers and researchers, can access and use the data.

Link: https://unctad.org/publication/making-sense-non-tariff-measures-users-guide-accessing-and-analysing-data

2.2.  Non-tariff measures at the border, a Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) level analysis (2025): This study explores how reducing compliance costs from border non-tariff measures (NTMs), including certain types of TBT, can lower trade barriers and boost economic outcomes using the GTAP model. It introduces the GTAP 11 Satellite Database, which provides ad-valorem equivalents for border NTMs, enabling analysis of their general equilibrium effects. The research offers insights into how NTM cost reductions can enhance trade and support regional integration.

Link: https://unctad.org/publication/non-tariff-measures-border-gtap-level-analysis

2.3.  Leaving the shore: Marine-based substitutes and alternatives to plastics (2025): This study explores the potential of marine-based non-plastic substitutes and alternatives (MBSAs) to address plastic pollution while supporting sustainable development, particularly in coastal and small island communities. From a trade perspective, it also addresses the role of tariff measures (NTMs) and TBT.

Link: https://unctad.org/publication/leaving-shore-marine-based-substitutes-and-alternatives-plastics

2.4.  The full catalogue of publications related to NTMs and TBT is available here: https://unctad.org/publications-search?f[0]=sitemap%3A811

3  Highlights of technical assistance and capacity building

3.1.  The Government of Timor-Leste and UN Trade and Development have completed the country's first-ever collection of non-tariff measures (NTMs), including technical barriers to trade. The Government is also considering how to integrate this information into its national trade information portal. The data availability will enhance understanding and improve transparency of the NTMs currently in force in Timor-Leste.

3.2.  UN Trade and Development provides online training courses on non-tariff measures (NTMs), including TBT. The courses are available at https://elearning.unctad.org/ntms.

3.3.  The UN Trade and Development website that focuses on NTMs and TBT is: unctad.org/NTM

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