Some commodities have remained largely outside the reform process . Nontariff barriers persist . Although nontariff barriers were eliminated in principle, the market effects of many nontariff barriers continue largely unchanged in practice. For example, while quotas are generally prohibited, TRQ's will have the effect of quotas in many markets until TRQ's have been considerably liberalized. Also, as traditional import barriers are reduced or eliminated, technical barriers, such as requirements regarding labeling, size, quality, and inspection requirements, comprise nontariff barriers that have a significant impact on trade.
Export subsidies continue to distort world agricultural markets .
After the period of high world market prices during 1995-97, when the use of export subsidies declined for some commodities, export subsidies have risen. Also, rules regarding the use of export credit, food aid, and other forms of marketing assistance for exports remain unresolved. Domestic support disciplines have little effect in most countries . The reductions in trade-distorting domestic support have been easily met by most countries. These commitments only applied to aggregate domestic support rather than support to individual commodities, thus permitting high support levels to continue for the more sensitive commodities.