A total of 42 new trade restrictive measures were applied by G20 economies during mid-October 2016 to mid-May 2017.
The World Trade Organsiations’ (WTO) seventeenth monitoring report on Group of 20 (G20) trade measures, issued on Friday, unveiled the scenario.
The trade restrictive measures include new or increased tariffs, customs regulations and rules of origin restrictions. 
“This is an average of six measures per month – slightly higher than in 2016 but below the longer-term trend observed in 2009-2015 of seven per month,” said the WTO report.
It also showed that trade restrictions in G20 economies have risen at a moderate rate similar to that of previous years, despite the uncertainty facing the global economy. 
The report calls on G20 governments to show leadership in supporting open and mutually beneficial trade as a driver of economic growth and development
G20 economies also implemented 42 measures aimed at facilitating trade during the review period, add the WTO monitoring report.
These include the elimination or reduction of tariffs and the simplification of customs procedures. 
“At an average of six new trade-facilitating measures per month, this represents a similar level compared to the previous reporting period (mid-May to mid-October 2016) and is in line with the declining trend observed in 2016,” it added.
WTO estimation also showed that trade coverage of trade-facilitating measures implemented by G20 economies stood at US$163 billion and significantly exceeded the estimated trade coverage of trade restrictive measures worth US $47 billion. - AK
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Source: The Financial Express