Non-tariff measures wiping off Sh2.3 trillion of exports from poor countries

UNCTAD officials led by Secretary General Mukhisa Kituyi ( from right), Head of Statistics and Information Branch Steve MacFeely, Deputy Secretary General Joakim Reiter and Chief Communications, Information and Outreach Edward Harris address a press conference at KICC during UNCTAD Conference. [PHOTO:BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

Non-tariff measures are wiping off a tenth of exports from developing countries. The United Nations has said developing countries are losing about $23 billion (Sh2.3 trillion) every year to rich nations through their failure to comply with non-tariff measures.

Data released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says the losses, which are equal to about 10 per cent of their exports, are lost to the Group of 20 (G20) through failure to comply with G20 non-tariff measures.