1. The Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade the “TBT Agreement”

2. avoidance of unnecessary obstacles to international trade
allowing for regulatory autonomy to protect legitimate interests
promotion of international standards

3. Non-tariff barriers to trade (NTBs)

4. Trade Rounds Year Place / name Subjects covered # 1947 Geneva Tariffs23
1949
Annecy 13
1951
Torquay 38
1956 26
Geneva (Dillon Round)
Geneva (Kennedy Round)
Tariffs and anti-dumping measures 62
Geneva (Tokyo Round)
Tariffs, NTBs, “framework agreements”
102
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

5. Overall, import weighted tariff on
Tariffs (1)
Overall, import weighted tariff on
industrial products
≈ 40%
> 4%

6. (Nevertheless, tariffs are still an issue ...)
In the negotiations (Agriculture and NAMA):
Peaks, escalation, preferences
In agriculture + tariff rate quotas
Also preferences and compound / mixed tariffs
As long as subsidies persist...
Use of tariffs to protect markets
... But, nevertheless, in relative terms: less of an issue today

7. Doha Ministerial Declaration (para 16) negotiations
In the negotiations (Agriculture and NAMA):
Peaks, escalation, preferences
In agriculture + tariff rate quotas
Also preferences and compound / mixed tariffs
As long as subsidies persist...
Use of tariffs to protect markets
... But, nevertheless, in relative terms: less of an issue today

8. “July Package” 1 August 2004 (para B-3, Para 14) intensify
In the negotiations (Agriculture and NAMA):
Peaks, escalation, preferences
In agriculture + tariff rate quotas
Also preferences and compound / mixed tariffs
As long as subsidies persist...
Use of tariffs to protect markets
... But, nevertheless, in relative terms: less of an issue today

9. Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration (para 22) need for proposals .. quickly
In the negotiations (Agriculture and NAMA):
Peaks, escalation, preferences
In agriculture + tariff rate quotas
Also preferences and compound / mixed tariffs
As long as subsidies persist...
Use of tariffs to protect markets
... But, nevertheless, in relative terms: less of an issue today

10. Scope of TBT Agreement

11. TBT Agreement is applicable to:
“1.3 All products, including industrial and agricultural products, shall be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.”

12. What is the TBT Agreement is not applicable to ?

13. TBT Agreement is not applicable to ....
“The provisions of this Agreement do not apply to sanitary and phytosanitary measures as defined in Annex A of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.” TBT Agreement, Article 1:5 (General Provisions)

14. Protection of the environment
Invasive species
GMOs?
quality - safety

15. SPS measures
TBT Agreement
Services
Government procurement
Import bans

16. What is a TBT measure?

17. Conformity Assessment Procedures Technical Regulations Standards

18. Technical Regulation
“Document which lays down product characteristics or their related processes and production methods, including the applicable administrative provisions, with which compliance is mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a product, process or production method.” TBT Agreement, Annex 1, para 1
Jump to PPM

19. Technical Regulation
document which lays down product characteristics or their related processes and production methods with which compliance is mandatory … TBT Agreement, Annex 1, para 1 (words)
Jump to PPM

20. “characteristics”
size shape colour texture hardness tensile strength flammability conductivity density or viscosity

21. “related characteristics”
terminology symbols packaging marking or labelling requirements

22. Technical Regulations Standards Conformity Assessment Procedures

23. Conformity Assessment Procedures
“Any procedure used, directly or indirectly, to determine that relevant requirements in technical regulations or standards are fulfilled.” TBT Agreement, Annex 1, para 3

24. Technical Regulations Standards Conformity Assessment Procedures

25. Definition of a “standard”
“Document approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, with which compliance is not mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling requirements as they apply to a product, process or production method.” TBT Agreement, Annex 1, para 2

26. Definition of a “standard”1
recognized body that provides, for common and repeated use rules, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods with which compliance is not mandatory TBT Agreement, Annex 1, para 2 2 3 4

27. “International Body or System” (Annex 1, para 4)
“Body or system whose membership is open to the relevant bodies of at least all Members.”

28. TBT Agreement
Basic principles ?
Note: the SPS Agreement has particular and unique provisions with respect to science and risk assessment.
SPS Agreement

29. Three Key Principles

30. non-discrimination
unnecessary obstacle
harmonization

31. Non-discrimination (MFN, NT)

33. Article III:4 of GATT 1994
“The products of the territory of any Member imported into the territory of any other Member shall be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to like products of national origin in respect of all laws, regulations and requirements affecting their internal sale, offering for sale, purchase, transportation, distribution or use.” …

34. Article 2.1 of the TBT Agreement
“Members shall ensure that in respect of technical regulations, products imported from the territory of any Member shall be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to like products of national origin and to like products originating in any other country.”

35. “like products” “treatment no less favourable”

36. What is a “like product”

37. In respect of non-discrimination, is there a difference between TBT and SPS?

38. Article 2.3 of the SPS Agreement
no unjustifiable discrimination between
Members where identical or similar conditions prevail
including own territory and other Members
no disguised restrictions on international trade

39. non-discrimination
unnecessary obstacle
harmonization

40. Unnecessary obstacles to international trade

41. Article 2.2 (TBT) (technical regulations)
“Members shall ensure that technical regulations are not prepared, adopted or applied with a view to or with the effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade. For this purpose, technical regulations shall not be more trade-restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective, taking account of the risks non-fulfilment would create. .. .” (emphasis added)

42. “unnecessary obstacle” “not more trade-restrictive than necessary” “taking into account risk of non-fulfillment”

43. Case-by-case

44. Choice of measure

45. non-discrimination
unnecessary obstacle
harmonization

46. The use of international standards
= ≈
The use of international standards
“harmonization”

47. Article 2.4 – 2.6 of the TBT Agreement
= ≈
Article 2.4 – 2.6 of the TBT Agreement

48. explain / presumption (2.5)
= ≈
Three issues
use ! (2.4)
explain / presumption (2.5)
participation (2.6)

49. = ≈
EC – Sardines (2002)
EC – Trade Description of Sardines (Peru) (first TBT case) ... look at this later ...

50. explain / presumption (2.5)
= ≈
Three issues
use ! (2.4)
explain / presumption (2.5)
participation (2.6)

51. = ≈
What are the key differences between the TBT and SPS Agreements with respect to Harmonization?

52. = ≈

53. = ≈ non-discrimination unnecessary obstacle Standards
“like products” requirements? situations (SPS)
unnecessary obstacle
“new” policy objective choice of measure case-by-case
= ≈
Standards
Qualified obligation to use TBT open / SPS closed exceptions sardines

54. What I said at outset ...