TBT turns 30 – a good example of international cooperation and national implementation
Next week, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its members will celebrate 30 years of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). And, it has been a successful 30 years.
Anders Karlsson, Trade Policy Adviser
During the meetings that take place three times a year, members agree on actions to improve trade and address specific trade concerns (STC:s). During 2023, the members shared more than 4,000 draft regulations with each other, which also can be accessed on the public website ‘ePing’.
The TBT agreement is a great facilitator for transparency, providing information on upcoming regulations, impact assessments and the national implementation of the agreement. Through this, WTO members are better equipped, as they have access to the information they need to place their products on the markets of other member countries.
The aim of the agreement and the work of the WTO members is not to remove regulation; it is to strike a balance between necessary levels for safety, without creating unnecessary barriers to trade.
Our goal is that our developing partners will be better equipped to act in their own best interest.
The National Board of Trade Sweden has been providing technical assistance on TBT for many years. TBT has been and continues to be one of the most requested areas for development cooperation. Our goal is that our developing partners will be better equipped to act in their own best interest.
This aim extends beyond raising concerns about technical legislation in other countries to include work on developing effective national legislation that aligns with the intentions of the TBT agreement, as well as the desired level of safety that the country aims to achieve.
The implementation of the TBT agreement on the national level is always dependent on robust national institutions. Regulation is the responsibility of government and requires both technical expertise and knowledge about trade effects.
Additionally, the range of products requiring technical regulations is immense, from pencils to pacemakers, and mobile phones to motor vehicles. This warrants coordination between government agencies. Specialised agencies know their products and the associated risks, while other experts know how to develop regulations that do not create unnecessary barriers to trade.
Building a national TBT regime also requires an effective quality infrastructure (QI). QI is just that – an infrastructure composed of standardisation, conformity assessment and metrology. QI institutions answer to the needs of businesses that use the infrastructure to fulfil the requirements of business partners and regulators. Technical regulations on products cannot be developed effectively without the knowledge and understanding of QI institutions and the function they serve.
Better regulation can be developed by focusing on the impacts for businesses stakeholders, civil society, the general population and trading partners.
The need for good regulatory practices (GRP) is also key when working with national implementation. Working with GRP in the development of national technical regulations, testing and certification requirements, etc. ensures that regulation and the QI is fit for purpose. Better regulation can be developed by focusing on the impacts for businesses stakeholders, civil society, the general population and trading partners.
National coordination is needed to access all necessary knowledge. International coordination (e.g. within the WTO TBT committee) allows trading partners to provide input on trade impacts and can result in better regulatory outcomes.
We believe our role in development cooperation, where we are civil servants in our own administration cooperating with our colleagues and counterparts in other countries’ administrations, provides a significant advantage. We face the same challenges as our colleagues in working to promote international cooperation and transparent rules.
With our partners, we work together to strengthen capacity and increase active participation in the international trading system. We look forward to seeing even more of our partners make the best use of their resources when developing technical regulations and to actively participate in the WTO TBT Committee for many more years to come.
Anders Karlsson
Trade Policy Adviser
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