Barriers to trade Finnish businesses encounter vary in different export markets –extensive trade barrier survey completed by the Ministry for Foreign affairs

Press release 209/2005
30 June, 2005


Finnish companies mostly practice foreign trade without encountering major problems, but high custom duties, difficult customs procedures and technical trade barriers constitute obstacles to trade in certain export markets, reveals the survey about the trade barriers carried out by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The countries that have the highest number of obstacles to trade include Russia, China and the United States. Among the EU countries, the markets of Germany and the Baltic Countries constitute most of the problems. On the other hand, among our major trading partners Sweden got mentioned remarkably rarely in the trade barrier survey.

The results of the survey are based on a questionnaire the Ministry for Foreign Affairs sent to approximately 3,500 companies. The survey was carried out in cooperation with the Ministry for Trade and Industry, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Federation of Finnish Commerce and Trade, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, Finpro and the Central Chamber of Commerce. In their answers the companies identified the total of approximately 950 problems they regarded as obstacles to trade. The reports mostly concerned obstacles encountered in the export markets, but also a few reports concerning the import trade were made.

The goal of the survey was to get an overall view of the problems Finnish businesses encounter in order to better inform the companies about the conditions in the export markets, and to take measures to remove the obstacles to trade. "It is a question of a service the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is offering to the companies through which we seek to support Finnish companies in their export and internationalization efforts," says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki. "The concrete goals and problems of the Finnish businesses form the basis which Finland’s trade political goals are built upon, so continuous dialogue between the authorities and businesses is essential. Thus I encourage the companies to actively contact the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in the future as well, and to report any obstacles to exports, imports or investments they encounter, so that we could take measures to remove them."

When the authorities become aware of the trade barriers, they try to solve them, for example, in the World Trade Organization, WTO, negotiations as well as by taking advantage of the bilateral contacts of Finland and the European Commission with the trading partner countries. In addition, problems between the EU countries can be solved flexibly through a so-called SOLVIT system (unofficial on-line system between the EU authorities for solving internal market problems).

Barriers to trade can be reported, for example, through the Internet questionnaire at: formin.finland.fi/palvelut/kauppa/kaupanesteet/(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)

Additional information: Market Access Unit, Commercial Secretary Johanna Silvander, tel. +358 9 160 55507, [email protected], or Head of the Unit Ilkka Saarinen, tel. +358 9 160 56327, [email protected]

Survey of Trade Barriers 2005 (pdf, 242KB)(Link to another website.)