The 30th anniversary of the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement was marked by a meeting where members emphasized its ongoing significance in addressing modern global trade challenges. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the agreement's role in fostering cooperation on standards and regulations, noting that "For thirty years, the TBT Agreement has provided a multilateral framework for cooperation on standards and regulations — something members recognized at MC13 earlier this year in the first-ever Ministerial Declaration specifically on the TBT Agreement."
The declaration reaffirms the relevance of the TBT Agreement in tackling issues such as climate change, digital economy, and global health pandemics. The Committee set a proactive agenda for future discussions on these emerging challenges. Okonjo-Iweala stated: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, suspending unnecessary barriers and streamlining certification procedures helped reduce avoidable delays in moving goods across borders.”
Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam, Daniela García of Ecuador (Chair of the TBT Committee), Ambassador Simon Manley from the UK, and Lahya Shitenga-Hambinga from Namibia participated in sessions reflecting on the TBT Agreement's evolution. Discussions also covered how it aids standards organizations and addresses new global challenges.
The final session examined the impact of the Committee's work on international trade businesses, focusing on sectors like medical devices and food industries.
During their meeting from November 4-7, members adopted a three-year work programme as part of their mandated review of the TBT Agreement. This includes regulatory matters such as medical device regulation and decarbonization standards in steel production. Cross-cutting work with other WTO bodies is planned.
Members raised 11 new trade concerns about proposed and final TBT regulations alongside 51 previously raised issues. Topics included carbon footprint methodologies for electric batteries and circularity requirements for vehicle design.
Progress continues as more WTO members report resolving specific trade concerns. The United States and Japan shared updates on collaborative efforts to address several trade issues.
Transparency was another focal point with an update on a project proposal aimed at enhancing transparency through improved use of the ePing platform. Approved by STDF Working Group, this initiative will promote expanded use of ePing in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda over three years.
Technical assistance remains crucial with over 22,000 people receiving training related to TBT-SPS topics over ten years. The Secretariat provided an overview of recent training activities while highlighting benefits gained by Kenya and Namibia from technical assistance programs organized by WTO.