Inspection, Surveillance, and Biological Invasion

International economic activities have helped species spread into non-native habitats, which cause significant ecological and economic burden of invaded countries. Therefore, an intuitive method to prevent exotic species from invasion is to use tariff or non-tariff trade barriers to limit trade. Nevertheless, restriction on trade has its own costs; and besides, trade barriers may not be available for control under World Trade Organization rules. Thus, to look for options other than trade barriers is crucial to mitigate impact of bioinvasion with trade. This study will build a model to analyze using two other control options, inspection of cargo containers and surveillance programs, in preventing biological invasion via international trade. These results indicate that if a country has fewer imported containers or has a limited budget for prevention, inspection of containers may be a better policy. Otherwise, surveillance is optimal.