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International Standards in Multilateral Trade: Overcoming Regulatory Obstacles

Explore the significance of international standards in trade regulations, addressing obstacles and solutions for harmonization, conformity assessment, and market access. Learn about the UNECE International Model and its role in simplifying technical regulations.

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International Standards in Multilateral Trade: Overcoming Regulatory Obstacles

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  1. Use of International Standards in multilateral trade Per DöfnäsDirector, Technical RegulationsGovernment Affairs & Regulations Telefonaktiebolaget LM EricssonGroup Function Strategy & Product ManagementSE – 16483 Stockholm, SWEDEN

  2. Countries adopt their own style of technical regulation • In compliance with WTO Trade Policy Provisions included in the TBT Agreement • ”Avoidance of unnecessary TBTs” • No more trade restrictive than necessary ... • Regulatory objectives • National standards based on International standards • Conformity assessment (CA) • Labelling • Etc. • Still room for deviations nationally, potentially constituting de-facto trade barriers

  3. Country A Country B Country C Maximum requirements RegulationStandardsCA RegulationStandardsCA RegulationStandardsCA RegulationStandardsCA Obstacles in international trade • Basic principle regarding regulatory technical and administrative requirements in plurilateral agreement • Technical and administrative requirements should not be more onerous than the existing requirements of the participating countries

  4. Obstacles in international trade cont • Codification of countries’ regulatory technical and administrative requirements may prove difficult and result in overly complicated procedures • A common set of Regulatory Objectives based on Good Regulatory Practices would simplify the task of establishing a plurilateral agreement

  5. UNECE International Model • The UNECE International Model1 suggests practical implementation of technical harmonisation, and • Is based on Good Regulatory Practice (cf. WTO TBT) • Provides a mechanism for linking harmonised technical regulation and international standards • Describes common procedures for conformity assessment • Privides for free movement of goods among partcipating countries 1UNECE Recommendation L: ”An International Model for Technical Harmonisation based on Good Regulatory Practice for the preparation, adoption and application of technical regulations via the use of international standards” available at http://www.unece.org/trade/ctied/wp6/major_doc.htm

  6. UNECE International Model cont • Interested countries agree on Common Regulatory Objectives • Products to be covered • Legitimate regulatory objectives • Applicable international standards • Conformity assessment procedures • Market surveillance, with protection clause enbling withdrawal of non-compliant products • Free movement • Advantages with the model • Sectoral arrangements are open for all UN Member States • Regional arrangements on sectoral level; additional countries can join in

  7. UNECE International Model cont • Current sectoral initiatives • Telecom Initiative (http://www.unece.org/trade/ctied/wp6/sectoral/telecom/tele_bkgrd.htm) • Earth-moving machinery (http://www.unece.org/trade/ctied/wp6/sectoral/earth-moving/earth_bkgrd.htm) • Regional Projects

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