The TBT Agreement, or the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement, is a pact signed by countries in the World Trade Organization (WTO) to regulate technical barriers to trade. This agreement seeks to ensure that regulations, standards, and testing procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to international trade.
One of the main objectives of the TBT Agreement is to ensure that technical regulations and standards are not used as disguised protectionism. It requires that technical regulations and standards be developed based on sound scientific principles and avoid creating unnecessary barriers to trade. The agreement also obliges WTO members to use international standards as a basis for their national regulations and allows them to use their own standards as long as they are not more trade-restrictive than the international ones.
The TBT Agreement covers a broad range of products and services, including agricultural goods, industrial products, and textiles, among others. It also includes provisions for transparency, notification, and consultation mechanisms to ensure that countries are informed about changes in technical regulations and standards that may affect their trade.
In addition, the TBT Agreement encourages the use of conformity assessment procedures, such as testing, inspection, and certification, as a means to ensure that products meet the applicable technical regulations and standards. This helps to promote consumer safety, environmental protection, and other public policy objectives without imposing unnecessary barriers to trade.
Overall, the TBT Agreement plays a crucial role in facilitating international trade by promoting transparency, scientific principles, and the use of international standards. This helps to ensure a level playing field for all WTO members and promotes fair competition, which ultimately benefits consumers and businesses alike.