Trade barriers a growing menace

A third of nation's exporting firms suffered losses from protectionism

BEIJING - Chinese companies are suffering rising economic losses from technical barriers to trade (TBT) set up by other countries, and experts warn the country is going to be the major victim of TBT in the coming years.

Direct economic losses caused by TBT, affecting nearly one-third of exporting enterprises in the country, added up to $58.2 billion last year, more than twice the figure in 2005, according to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.