The OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) provides up-to-date, comparable information – cross country and through time – on regulations affecting trade in services. It is composed of two distinct but complementary instruments: (i) a services trade regulatory database, which collects information on applied services trade policy, based on laws and regulations, and (ii) a services trade restrictiveness index measuring the trade restrictiveness of such policies.
The STRI regulatory database captures potentially restricting trade measures and the absence of trade-enabling regulations. It not only records limitations on market access and national treatment of foreign services suppliers, but also behind-the-border regulations that impede the establishment and operation of foreign services suppliers. Measures are assessed on a most-favoured nation (MFN) basis; in other words, the STRI does not take into consideration trade agreements between countries, or other preferential treatment.
This note presents the key outcomes of the 2025 OECD Services Trade Restrictiveness Index (STRI) and highlights the latest trends shaping services trade. It also exemplifies best practices and the countries that lead in services reforms.
Since 2014, the OECD STRI has served as a unique tool providing annual information on regulatory changes that affect trade in 51 countries and 22 key services sectors. The indicators range from zero to one, with one representing the most restrictive regulatory landscape for services trade.
The STRI is complemented by several related indices:
The OECD Digital STRI that measures cross-cutting barriers to trade in digitally enabled services in 129 countries
The OECD Intra-EEA STRI that covers barriers within the European Economic Area
The OECD STRI heterogeneity indices that measure the degree of dissimilarity of regulation between a given pair of countries
The APEC Index and the ASEAN STRI that capture regional services trade barriers.
Together, these tools provide a comprehensive and transparent overview of global trends in services trade regulations, enabling deeper analysis of their impact on trade and the wider economy.
This year, the STRI reflects policy developments on services trade that were made public up to 31 October 2025, including changes introduced through new or amended laws and regulations. The annual STRI update also takes into consideration retroactive adjustments, to ensure the integrity and continuity of the time series dating back to 2014.
As an evidence-based instrument, the STRI helps policymakers benchmark their policies against global best practice and assess the likely impact of reform options. It also supports trade negotiators in identifying restrictions that impede trade and is a source of regulatory transparency for businesses seeking to enter foreign markets.