World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

The World Trade Organization's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) helps ensure that technical standards, regulations, and testing procedures used by countries do not unfairly restrict international trade. It encourages countries to develop standards that facilitate trade while protecting health, safety, and the environment. The agreement promotes transparency, meaning countries should notify others of new or revised standards and provide opportunities for consultation. This helps prevent unnecessarily stringent or non-tariff barriers, making it easier for products to move across borders, benefiting consumers with more choices and fairer market access.