bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

TBT


US lawmaker blasts ‘Monsanto provision’ in Fast Track legislation
US Representative Peter DeFazio today spoke out against a provision buried in trade promotion authority legislation that could help a government or multinational corporation attack state or national laws that require the labeling of genetically engineered foods.
US moves toward greater trade with Africa
Pact with Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda — to be expanded to other countries later on — seen as a stepping stone to full fledged FTA
EU-US FTA (TTIP) - draft on technical barriers to trade (TBT) (March 2014)
As published by the European Commission
TPP - US TBT proposal (2011)
Citizen Trade Campaign has released this proposed text from the US on technical barriers to trade relating to medical devices and pharmaceuticals under the Trans Pacific Partnership
Sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers to trade in EPAs
This paper from ICTSD sets out a common vision on issues that could constitute sanitary, phytosanitary and technical barriers in EPAs and investigates how abusive use of these provisions could be an obstacle to market access.
Ranbaxy deal may help India’s entry into Japan
The Daiichi Sankyo-Ranbaxy Laboratories deal has come as a shot in the arm for India’s Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement (CECA) negotiations with Japan. Indian pharma companies have been unable to break into Japan, the world’s second largest drug market, due to the country’s stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards, technical barriers to trade (TBT) and environmental norms.
FTAs and safety standards
Unlike India, most Asean countries have a very robust regime of quality and safety standards for products imported into their markets. What that means under an India-ASEAN FTA is that Indian manufacturers, despite having lower entry tariffs into Asean, will still not be able to export their products unless they meet the strict safety and quality regulations of those countries.
Malaysian trade talks stall on GM labelling
The labelling of genetically modified (GM) goods within Malaysia has come further under the spotlight this week as the industry remains torn between its proposed bio-safety laws and free trade agreements between the US.
Thai shrimp exporters fear new health rules in Australia
Thai shrimp farmers have urged the government to speed up negotiations with Australia over its proposed health and safety standard before it comes into effect on February 21.
Saudi Arabia accession to WTO (2005)
Information sheets from USTR