技术性贸易壁垒协定_2024年10项关键成果_16页_1mb

Summary of 10 Key Results from 2024 on the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement

The Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement of the WTO aims to minimize technical obstacles to international trade by ensuring that regulations and standards do not unnecessarily restrict trade flows. The following 10 key results highlight advancements in 2024, based on the annual review.

• TBT@30 Anniversary: The WTO celebrated the 30th anniversary of the TBT Agreement with events emphasizing its role in addressing public interests like health and environmental protection, with Director-General Okonjo-Iweala underscoring its importance in adapting to global challenges.

• MC13 Declaration on Regulatory Cooperation: Adopted at the 2024 Ministerial Conference, this declaration stresses the TBT Committee's function in fostering regulatory alignment to tackle issues like climate change and digital economy standards, while promoting tools such as ePing for convergence.

• Adoption of the 10th Triennial Review: This review covered three years of Committee work and approved 40+ recommendations, including 23 thematic sessions on topics like critical technologies, decarbonization, and medical devices, aiming to enhance transparency and digital practices.

• Conformity Assessment Procedure Guidelines: Guidelines were finalized to help regulators design appropriate conformity assessment procedures (CAPs), which verify product compliance with standards, focusing on risk management and inclusivity for developing economies.

• Transparency Working Group: A practical guide was developed for members to provide comments on draft regulations, improving transparency practices and communication of legal arrangements to implementation steps.

• Notifications on Product Requirements: In 2024, over 4,300 notifications were submitted, the highest annual total since 1995, covering health, safety, and environmental protections, mainly from developing and least-developed countries.

• Submission of Notifications: More than 91 members, predominantly developing countries, contributed to notifications; a specific breakdown shows high involvement from developing members and their key contributions.

• ePing's Global Reach: ePing provides email alerts to subscribers worldwide, enabling monitoring of regulatory changes and timely responses to affect trade positively.

• Specific Trade Concerns: The number of concerns decreased by an average of 9% annually since 2021, with 2024 resolving 10 issues, facilitated by early dialogue to prevent disputes.

• Technical Assistance: After COVID-19 disruptions, 23 TBT-specific technical assistance activities were conducted in 2024, supporting capacity building for developing members through in-person and virtual formats.

Overall, these results demonstrate progress in enhancing regulatory cooperation, transparency, and support for developing economies, reinforcing the TBT Agreement's role in smooth and free trade.