BEIJING, July 29  -- Technical barriers to trade (TBT) caused 66.2 billion U.S. dollars of losses for Chinese exporters in 2013, China's quality authorities said on Tuesday.

The figure was about 2.3 billion U.S. dollars less than that in 2012, said Lu Chunming, an official with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.

The administration surveyed 3,148 exporters on the impact of TBT.

About 38 percent of respondents said TBT affected business.

The top five regions that impacted Chinese exporters were the United States, the European Union, Japan, Canada and Latin America, according to the survey.

TBT for Chinese industrial products mainly cover certifications, technical standards and labels. TBT for agricultural products mainly focus on pesticides and veterinary drug residues, harmful substances and microorganisms.