As the first nine columns indicate.

As the first nine columns indicate. North American tariff protection is rel-
atively tow by world standards. Some sectoral flows are significantly distoned,
at least in nominal terms; that is, they make no allowance for protection ot
intermediates. As the trade-weighted averages in the table indicate, however,
these constitute a relatively small share of total trade. When other impon
control measures are taken into account, both the composition and economy-
wide averages of import distortions increase significantly for all three econo-
mies. This information not only reveals higher levels of North American pro-
tection but also indicates how narrow the basis may be for cuirent NAFTA
negotiations ifNTBs are not addressed. The averages reveal a few noteworthy
general features. First. Canadian exponers face the highest barriers from theii
regional trading partners. Both the United States and Mexicotend to discnm-
inate more against Canada than against the rest of the world and least so against each
other. These two (the United States and Mexico) are also very protec-
tionist in primary sectors on average, whereas Canada and Mexico are most
proieciionisl against agriculmral imports. The United States maintains the
highest average innpon barriers against its neighbors of the three, and Canada
maintains the lowest.