diff --git a/python/FactorySystem/Parser.py b/python/FactorySystem/Parser.py
index 558a2d33f236..f01303ed4f87 100644
--- a/python/FactorySystem/Parser.py
+++ b/python/FactorySystem/Parser.py
@@ -56,7 +56,19 @@ def parse(self, filename, default_values = None):
         self.root = root(0) # make the [Tests] block the root
 
         self.check()
-        self._parseNode(filename, self.root, default_values)
+
+        # Convert any provided default values (from the testroot file) into a
+        # simple dictionary so that we can merge values without relying on
+        # pyhit.Node's type conversion rules.
+        if default_values is not None:
+            if isinstance(default_values, dict):
+                defaults = default_values
+            else:
+                defaults = {k: v for k, v in default_values.params()}
+        else:
+            defaults = {}
+
+        self._parseNode(filename, self.root, defaults)
 
     def check(self):
         """Perform error checking on the loaded hit tree"""
@@ -143,6 +155,19 @@ def checkParams(self, params, node):
     # private:
     def _parseNode(self, filename, node, default_values):
 
+        # Build a new set of default values for any child blocks by combining
+        # the inherited defaults with parameters defined on this node. This
+        # allows values supplied in the [Tests] block to propagate to every
+        # test contained within it.
+        child_defaults = dict(default_values) if default_values is not None else {}
+        for key, value in node.params():
+            if key == 'type':
+                continue
+            if key == 'cli_args' and key in child_defaults:
+                child_defaults[key] = child_defaults[key] + ' ' + value
+            else:
+                child_defaults[key] = value
+
         if 'type' in node:
             moose_type = node['type']
 
@@ -153,12 +178,20 @@ def _parseNode(self, filename, node, default_values):
             params.addParam('hit_path', node.fullpath, 'HIT path to test in spec file')
 
             # Apply any new defaults
-            for key, value in default_values.params():
+            for key, value in default_values.items():
                 if key in params.keys():
                     if key == 'cli_args':
-                      params[key].append(value)
+                        params[key].append(value)
+                    elif params.type(key) == list:
+                        if isinstance(value, str):
+                            value = value.replace('\n', ' ')
+                            params[key] = re.split(r'\s+', value)
+                        elif isinstance(value, (list, tuple)):
+                            params[key] = list(value)
+                        else:
+                            params[key] = [str(value)]
                     else:
-                      params[key] = value
+                        params[key] = value
 
             # Extract the parameters from the hit node
             self.extractParams(params, node)
@@ -201,9 +234,11 @@ def _parseNode(self, filename, node, default_values):
         elif node.parent.fullpath == 'Tests' and self._check_for_type and not self._looksLikeValidSubBlock(node):
             self.error('missing "type" parameter in block "{}"'.format(node.fullpath), node=node)
 
-        # Loop over the section names and parse them
+        # Loop over the section names and parse them using the newly
+        # constructed defaults which include any parameters defined at this
+        # level.
         for child in node:
-            self._parseNode(filename, child, default_values)
+            self._parseNode(filename, child, child_defaults)
 
     # This routine returns a Boolean indicating whether a given block
     # looks like a valid subblock. In the Testing system, a valid subblock
diff --git a/python/TestHarness/tests/test_CapabilitiesPropagation.py b/python/TestHarness/tests/test_CapabilitiesPropagation.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ddd270fc2302
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/TestHarness/tests/test_CapabilitiesPropagation.py
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#* This file is part of the MOOSE framework
+#* https://mooseframework.inl.gov
+#*
+#* All rights reserved, see COPYRIGHT for full restrictions
+#* https://github.com/idaholab/moose/blob/master/COPYRIGHT
+#*
+#* Licensed under LGPL 2.1, please see LICENSE for details
+#* https://www.gnu.org/licenses/lgpl-2.1.html
+
+from TestHarnessTestCase import TestHarnessTestCase
+
+class TestHarnessTester(TestHarnessTestCase):
+    def testGlobalCapabilitiesPropagated(self):
+        result = self.runTests('-i', 'global_capabilities', '--dry-run')
+        test_results = result.results['tests']['tests/test_harness']['tests']['always_ok']
+        self.assertEqual(test_results['capabilities'], 'foo')
+
+    def testGlobalPrereqPropagated(self):
+        result = self.runTests('-i', 'global_prereq', '--dry-run')
+        test_results = result.results['tests']['tests/test_harness']['tests']['parent']['tests']['child']
+        self.assertEqual(test_results['prereq'], ['pre'])
diff --git a/test/tests/test_harness/global_capabilities b/test/tests/test_harness/global_capabilities
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..4627f4216f56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/tests/test_harness/global_capabilities
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+[Tests]
+  capabilities = 'foo'
+  [./always_ok]
+    type = RunApp
+    input = good.i
+  [../]
+[]
diff --git a/test/tests/test_harness/global_prereq b/test/tests/test_harness/global_prereq
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2671592c96cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/tests/test_harness/global_prereq
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[Tests]
+  [parent]
+    prereq = pre
+    [pre]
+      type = RunCommand
+      command = 'true'
+    []
+    [child]
+      type = RunCommand
+      command = 'true'
+    []
+  []
+[]