trade barrier: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Business/Technical
Quick answer
What does “trade barrier” mean?
A government-imposed restriction on the free international exchange of goods or services.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A government-imposed restriction on the free international exchange of goods or services.
Any policy, regulation, standard, or practice by a government or institution that makes it more difficult or expensive to import or export goods, thereby protecting domestic industries from foreign competition. This can include tariffs, quotas, subsidies, complex regulations, and bureaucratic procedures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling follows national conventions (e.g., 'labour standards' as a barrier in UK texts, 'labor standards' in US texts).
Connotations
In UK/EU discourse, often discussed in context of single market rules and post-Brexit arrangements. In US discourse, frequently linked to debates on manufacturing, China, and national security.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties within economic, political, and business journalism.
Grammar
How to Use “trade barrier” in a Sentence
[Country/Bloc] imposed/erected a trade barrier on [product/industry].The agreement aimed to dismantle trade barriers between [Party A] and [Party B].[Policy/Regulation] acts as a de facto trade barrier.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “trade barrier” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The government was accused of seeking to barrier trade with new licensing schemes.
- (Note: 'barrier' as a verb is rare and non-standard; 'restrict' or 'impede' is preferred.)
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) The policy effectively barriers imports from certain regions.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'trade barrier')
American English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'trade barrier')
adjective
British English
- The trade-barrier policy was heavily criticised by exporters.
- (Note: Hyphenated compound adjective.)
American English
- They conducted a trade-barrier analysis for the congressional report.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new sanitary regulations are effectively a trade barrier for our agricultural exports."
Academic
The study quantifies the welfare loss attributable to non-tariff trade barriers in the automotive sector."
Everyday
"They say those rules are for safety, but many farmers think it's just a trade barrier to keep out foreign food."
Technical
"The ad valorem tariff equivalent of the technical barrier to trade (TBT) was calculated at 7.3%."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “trade barrier”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “trade barrier”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “trade barrier”
- Using 'trade barrier' to describe natural competitive disadvantages (e.g., 'High transport costs are a trade barrier.' – Incorrect; it's a 'cost disadvantage').
- Confusing 'trade barrier' (government policy) with 'market barrier' (commercial factors like brand loyalty).
- Misspelling as 'trade barricade'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not universally. From a free-trade economic perspective, they are inefficient. However, governments may justify them to protect infant industries, national security, public health, environmental standards, or jobs, viewing them as necessary safeguards.
A tariff (a tax on imports) is one specific TYPE of trade barrier. 'Trade barrier' is the broader category that includes tariffs, quotas, embargoes, subsidies, and complex regulatory standards.
Yes. 'Non-tariff barriers' (NTBs) like lengthy customs procedures, unique product standards, or biased government procurement rules can be as effective as tariffs but less visible.
No. While often discussed for goods, trade barriers also apply to services (e.g., restrictions on foreign banks or telecom companies), investment, and intellectual property.
A government-imposed restriction on the free international exchange of goods or services.
Trade barrier is usually formal, academic, business/technical in register.
Trade barrier: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtreɪd ˌbæriə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtreɪd ˌbæriər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Tear down the barriers to trade.”
- “A barrier-free trading environment.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a physical BARRIER at a border crossing, but instead of stopping people, it's stopping TRUCKS full of imported goods. A TRADE BARRIER blocks trade.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRADE IS A FLOW (OF WATER/GOODS). A BARRIER IS AN OBSTRUCTION TO THAT FLOW (e.g., a dam, a wall).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of a non-tariff trade barrier?