出口自動設限雖為一種貿易的障砠，但已成為當今國際貿易上常見的現象。在進口國貿易政策不變(即進口總量之上限固定)的前提下，若自動設限的諸出口國有機會互相交換配額，將對所有出口國均有利，其條件為各出口品出口毛利比值，在諸出口國間並不相等。出口配額可以在出口國間直接交換，也可以透過其他管道達到間接交換的目的，但進口國有可能因此採取進一步的保護政策，使得出口國間配額交換的利益降低，甚至消失。

Trade barriers in the form of voluntary export restraints have become a common practice in international trade nowadays. Given the trade policies of the importing nations, it is shown that quota exchanges, either direct or indirect, between nations subject to similar quota restrictions are mutually beneficial if the ratio of profit margins differs among exporting countries. However the benefits may decrease or disappear if the importing countries take further actions to protect their domestic markets.