This article presents results of a survey applied to Brazilian exporting firms to obtain primary data, which are subject to a statistical analysis about the relative importance attributed to technical barriers to trade. The methodological procedure used consisted in non parametric tests The firms that collaborated with the analysis indicated that technical barriers effects upon exports are relatively more important than tariff barriers, other non tariff barriers, taxes and international marketing costs. Factors such as price, external demand and transport costs seemed to be more important than technical requirements. Within the technical requirements, quality seemed to be what has most influence upon exports. In addition, different types of requirements present different impacts within the sectors evaluated.
technical barriers; Brazilian exports; applied research; non parametric tests
