There’s no question that tariffs have played an outsized role in reshaping the global trade landscape over the past year—but they may not be the greatest hurdle for developing nations looking to grow and expand their exports and bolster their GDP. According to United Nations Trade and Development ( UNCTAD ), that distinction actually belongs to non-tariff measures (NTM) that have, for decades, inhibited market access for less developed economies. While tariffs rose markedly in 2025—by an average of 10 percent for developed countries, 16 percent for developing countries and 18 percent for least developed countries—NTMs like technical regulations, health and safety requirements and certification procedures impose higher export costs than tariffs for 88 percent of countries, UNCTAD ’s May Global Trade Update revealed.…