The “Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade” (TBT Agreement) contained in Annex 1A to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement is a crucial instrument that regulates technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures to facilitate international trade.
The TBT Agreement aims to ensure that technical requirements and standards do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. It encourages WTO members to use international standards as a basis for their national standards and creates a transparent system for the development, adoption, and application of technical regulations.
The TBT Agreement covers a wide range of measures that can affect trade, including labeling, packaging, testing, and certification requirements. It also specifies that WTO members should avoid imposing technical regulations that are more trade-restrictive than necessary to achieve a legitimate objective, such as the protection of human health or the environment.
The TBT Agreement recognizes the importance of international standards bodies, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and encourages WTO members to use their standards as a basis for their national standards. This helps to ensure that technical regulations and standards are consistent across different countries, making it easier for businesses to sell their products in foreign markets.
The TBT Agreement also recognizes the importance of conformity assessment procedures, such as testing and certification, in ensuring that products meet the required technical standards. It sets out guidelines for the use of these procedures to avoid creating unnecessary barriers to trade.
In summary, the TBT Agreement contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement is a key instrument that helps to facilitate international trade by regulating technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures. It encourages the use of international standards and the avoidance of unnecessary barriers to trade, helping businesses to sell their products in foreign markets.
