TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE COMMITTEE (TBT)

The TBT consisting of all WTO members is a unique multilateral forum for the discussion of
standards and regulations affecting trade.
It has developed a 3 pronged approach to its work:
1. Notification
2. Trade concern
3. Domestic coordination
1. Notification
 The TBT committee depends on notification from WTO members a one page document
containing the essential information about the regulation to conduct its work.
 The notification leads to a public consultation process normally lasting for 60 days.
 This is the opportunity for the trade partners to provide input which needs to be taken into
account by the members establishing the regulations.
2. Specific Trade Concern
 Once a notification has been made, it may be raised for discussion in the TBT committee
are referred as specific trade concern.
 The discussion within the committee consists of a technical debate among the experts.
 The WTO members raising issues explains how the proposed measure may have an adverse
impact on the trade.
 This may trigger further discussion between the members and the potential resolution of
the issue.
3. Domestic Coordination
 This is important because regulations and standards covers a wide range of technical issues
and any of these issues could be raised by another member in a meeting of TBT committee.
 It would be difficult for the committee representatives to know about the diverse topic
being discussed.
 National TBT committee meet regularly to coordinate work ahead of meeting of TBT
committee at WTO