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Import Quotas An exporter may find that the foreign country restricts mostly imports not only by means of tariffs but also by qualitative measures.

These usually take the form of import quotas for each particular product. Once the quota for the period has been filled, no more import licenses are issued.

There are three main types of import quota in use today:
1. Unilateral quotas  2. Negotiated bilateral or multilateral quotas  3. Tariffs quotas

Secrets of International Trade Import Export

Customs Valuation Procedures
Not all countries use the same method to assess the import duty on the value of goods imported. By using one method rather than another, an importing country can set a higher value on the goods and therefore levy a larger Ad Valorem duty.

One guilty country of such practice was Canada. Its previous Customs code allowed it to impose duty levels not directly related to the price paid for the goods but to what is termed "fair market value". This was branded by other countries, particularly the United Stated, as a non-tariff barrier and an unfair protective device.

Canada agreed to adopt in 1984 the standardized GATT customs valuation procedure. This has involved a switch from "fair market value" to "international transaction price" as the basis for assessment of import duties, at the Tokyo round of GATT trade negotiations that ended in 1979

Voluntary Restraints - Sometimes, when one of its domestic industries is being badly hurt by foreign imports, a government will undertake to persuade the exporting countries to "voluntarily" restrict their exports.

Unilateral Quotas - These are quotas set by a country without pervious consultation or negotiation with others. Such a quota may be global or allocated.