Regulation overtakes tariffs on the world trade battleground

02 March 1998

Regulation overtakes tariffs on the world trade battleground

THE new world trade battle will be over regulation rather than tariffs or
other market restrictions, writes the Financial Times.

Regulation is increasingly becoming the focus of international
competition and conflict. The repercussion of inadequate, or flawed regulation, are becoming more immediate and more likely to cross national frontiers as the borders come down in the world economy, it says.

Misjudgement in Europe by agriculture officials, whose priority seemed more to protect farmers incomes than consumers health, have had devastating effects on UK beef farming but the consequences have reverberated throughout European farming.

• Financial Times 02/03/98 page 21 (Comment & Analysis)