Politics of trade protection in an autocracy: Evidence from an EU tariff liberalization in Morocco

Although non-tariff measures (NTMs) have surpassed tariffs as the most prevalent instrument of trade protection globally, our knowledge what drives these NTMs is extremely limited. This paper sheds light on political determinants using a rich empirical setting in Morocco. Taking advantage bilateral EU-Morocco agreement that resulted an across-the-board tariff cut and subsequent rise NTMs, we use difference-in-differences regression framework to show sectors with close prior connections royal family received disproportionately higher levels after EU Agreement than unconnected sectors. We also demonstrate that, wake EU-induced cut, connected were mainly compensated through technical barriers depend administrative oversight are vulnerable influence.