wtoslide 1 the wto tbt agreement iso casco/devco – bis regional workshop on certification and...
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WTO Slide 1
The WTO TBT Agreement
ISO CASCO/DEVCO – BIS Regional Workshop on Certification and Conformity Assessment: Building Confidence for Developing Countries
New Delhi, 6-7 December 2004
Erik Wijkström WTO Trade and Environment Division
[email protected]+41 22 7395729
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Avoid: unnecessary barriers to trade
Allow: regulatory autonomy (legitimate objectives)
Use: international standards!
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≈ 40%
> 4%
Overall, import weighted tariff on industrial products
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%
20041947
tariffs
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%
20041947
?NTBs
tariffs
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GATT – WTO Trade Rounds
Year Place / name Subjects covered #
1947 Geneva Tariffs 23
1949 Annecy Tariffs 13
1951 Torquay Tariffs 38
1956 Geneva Tariffs 26
1960-1961
Geneva (Dillon Round)
Tariffs 26
1964-1967
Geneva (Kennedy Round)
Tariffs and anti-dumping measures
62
1973-1979
Geneva (Tokyo Round)
Tariffs, NTBs, “framework agreements”
102
1986-1994
Geneva (Uruguay Round)
Tariffs, NTBs, rules, services, IP, DSU, textiles, agriculture, creation of WTO, etc.
123
2001 - Geneva (DDA) (the above) + environment, + ?
148
Source: WTO
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TBT
SPS
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Principles of the TBT Agreement?
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“like product”
Non-discriminationMFN, NT…
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Non-discriminationMFN, NT…
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Unnecessary barriers to trade
?
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Unnecessary barriers to trade
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Balance between pursuing a regulatory policy objective (choice
of measure) and discouraging Members from adopting or
maintaining measures that unduly restrict trade
Unnecessary barriers to trade
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Use of relevant international standards
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Technical Regulations
Standards
Conformity Assessment Procedures
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Definition (Annex 1 of TBT Agreement)
3. Conformity assessment procedures
Any procedure used, directly or indirectly, to determine that relevant requirements in technical regulations or standards are fulfilled.
Explanatory note
Conformity assessment procedures include, inter alia, procedures for sampling, testing and inspection; evaluation, verification and assurance of conformity; registration, accreditation and approval as well as their combinations.
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TBT Committee work programme on CAP
Triennial Review: November 2003(G/TBT/12, paras 29-41)
“With a view to improving Members' implementation of Articles 5-9 of the Agreement and promoting a better understanding of Members’ conformity assessment
systems, the Committee agrees to the following work programme ...”
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Why?
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“renewed emphasis”
Not new: approaches discussed before
To do what?
TBT Committee work programme on CAP
SDoC Accreditation OtherSDoC Workshop21 March 2005 Special Meeting
29 June 2004
Workshopearly 2006
4th TR, end- 2006
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Summing up on CAP
Definition Principles
Work program(experiences with implementation)
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A word on how the TBT Committee works
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forum
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specific trade concerns
horizontal issues
technical assistance
“TBTTriennial Reviews”
(Article 15.4)
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“specific trade concerns”
Request explanation / clarification from Enquiry Point
Bilateral consultations
Raise issue at TBT Committee meeting
Request formal consultations (Dispute Settlement)
(Solution)
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approximately 120
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EC – Sardines (2002)
EC – Trade Description of Sardines (Peru)
(first TBT case)
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NTBs are growing in importance
Quality and safety key competitive factors today
TBT and SPS Agreements are relevant and important
Basic principles are familiar: MFN, NT, etc.
Work Programme CAP in 3rd TR
Summing up
Key in TBT: use of international standards
“renewed emphasis” on CAP