WTO MEMBERS APPROVED ROADMAP FOR REDUCING TECHNICAL TRADE BARRIERS
Members of the World Trade Organization held an important step in the Committee meeting on Technical Trade Barriers in November 14-15. The consensus was that the World Trade Organization should implement a series of measures. Because the goal is to support the implementation of the Technical Trade Barriers Agreement, Also another goal is to reduce trade barriers. Members also evaluated 62 major business issues. These issues include 8 new issues, at the committee meeting. In addition, the committee welcomed the newly prepared best practices guide on national enquiry points for technical trade barriers.
WTO members have reached an agreement on about thirty of the recommendations. These recommendations aim to improve the activity of TBT committee members on trade regulations and norms. Also WTO members are scheduled to review the implementation of the TBT agreement every three year. The beginning of this process was in November 2017. It has begun by the proposals of the members for the conduct of new studies on the issues determined by the committee.
The approved suggestions for Technical Trade Barriers include following subjects:
Transparency
Declaring the final arrangements when accepted and providing easier online access.
Providing easier access to websites in which final regulations are available.
Notifying the impacts of evaluations as a part of the process.
Increasing the information quality provided in notifications which is about the affected products, related documents and international standards for the regulations.
Additionally, improving the coordination of TBT enquiry points and the regulators.
Test, Inspecting, Certification
For designing and choosing the procedures for conformity evaluations, use the guidelines to assist the regulators.
Additionally, realize a study without repeating procedures and causing a restriction in the trade in conformity evaluation areas.
- Standards
Members made an agreement on holding a workshop. This is for discussing the activities on combining the standards in regulation. Also it is for considering the existing policies and guidelines.
Labeling
As well as labeling of products, members will discuss the methods of enabling the compliance of marking.
Technical Support
Members agreed to discuss the possibilities of widening the Standards and Trade Development Facility to cover the points of TBT Agreement. Also they will discuss establishing a separate TBT development facility.
Arranging Discussions in the Committee
Members agreed to apply new methods to increase the specific trade concerns. So they will be able to provide more time for coordination with domestic stakeholders.
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