Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/187445 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
WTO Staff Working Paper No. ERSD-2018-11
Publisher: 
World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva
Abstract: 
Most specific trade concerns (STCs), which are raised before the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Committee), disappear from the TBT Committee's meeting agendas without escalating into formal disputes. At the same time, a relatively small number of TBT-related disputes have been subject to the WTO dispute settlement procedures. By examining the practice of raising STCs and the relationship between STCs and disputes, the paper emphasises the role of STCs as a trade tension resolution mechanism. It argues that the STC mechanism is a viable alternative to the currently overburdened WTO dispute settlement system. The paper also suggests ways to strengthen the STC mechanism of the TBT Committee through dividing TBT Committee meetings into thematic sessions, adopting mediation procedures and reporting on STC resolutions. Further, it underscores the importance of increasing transparency and promoting good regulatory practice in avoiding disputes.
Subjects: 
specific trade concerns
technical barriers to trade
TBT Agreement
TBT Committee
trade disputes
JEL: 
F13
F53
F55
K33
L15
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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