Countries participate in cross border trade to exchange goods otherwise not available in their own countries, at a price, quality or variety level as demanded by customers. Unless countries are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), governments may take unilateral steps to frustrate the import of goods, usually for the protection of domestic industries.

List the potential actions that governments can take to impede or prevent foreign companies from competing in their country and the reasons, besides protectionism, for doing so.