A Case Study of the Impact of Non-tariff Barriers on Trade Flow between Liberia and Nigeria (2015 - 2019)

The objective of this study was to identify the operational and policy bottlenecks that are
adversely affecting trade growth between Liberia and Nigeria. Focus was on assessing the
impact of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) on the flow of goods from Nigeria to Liberia
and vice versa; how the NTBs are affecting the flow of goods and
people; what are the inhibiting factors, and make recommendations
for consideration by policy makers in the trade sector of the two
counties. Majority of the Liberian and Nigerian traders that travel
by road to do business are small (petty) business people. They
travel with their goods or put them on the trucks from Nigeria to
Liberia. The question that the study tried to investigate was that
"why is it that these business people are not able to expand their
businesses and tap successfully on the big Nigerian market of
over one hundred million consumers?" The study found out that
the Non-tariff barriers are a contributing factor to restraining trade
flow within West Africa, especially between Liberia and Nigeria.
The NTBs are a binding constraint inhibiting trade and limiting
gains from trade. Among the NTBs affecting trade flow between
Liberia and Nigeria are the many checkpoints on the highway and
border posts, the practice of extorting money from traders, and
the high level of corruption and bribery at border custom posts on
the trade route. The study concludes with operational and policy
recommendations