What is the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)?

The WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) is an international agreement that sets out rules and standards to reduce international trade barriers created by technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures that all WTO members must comply with. This agreement seeks to ensure that all products imported or exported to and from California, and all other WTO member countries, meet the same standards regardless of their origin. The agreement also seeks to ensure that these standards are not more trade-restrictive than necessary. Under the TBT Agreement, countries must notify other WTO members before introducing a new technical regulation or standard, allowing for a period of discussion to take place and providing a chance for adjustments to be made. In addition, the technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures must be consistently applied and available to the public. This helps to ensure that the standards are fair and applied equally to all products. The TBT Agreement also recognizes the need to recognize certain technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures in order to promote international trade. This helps to ensure that products of different countries meet the same safety, health, and environmental requirements, thus making it easier for products from different countries to be sold in each other’s markets. Overall, the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade is an important piece of international trade law as it seeks to reduce barriers to international trade and promote free and fair trade. It helps to ensure that products imported and exported to and from California, and all other WTO member countries, meet the same standards and are not discriminated against.

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What is the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)?

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