USTR Requests Comment on Technical Trade Barriers
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) issued a request for comment on technical trade barriers for U.S. exports, in order to help compile a 2014 annual USTR report on the subject. Interested parties should focus on standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that may be inconsistent with international trade agreements that the U.S. is party to. This report is geared towards highlighting and resolving such barriers. The World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers defines, as such, the following barriers:
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- Standard: Document approved by a recognized body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines, or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, with which compliance is not mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking, or labeling requirements as they apply to a product, process, or production method.
- Technical regulation: Document which lays down product characteristics or their related processes and production methods, including the applicable administrative provisions, with which compliance is mandatory. It may also include or deal exclusively with terminology, symbols, packaging, marking, or labeling requirements as they apply to a product, process, or production method.
- Conformity assessment procedures: Any procedure used, directly or indirectly, to determine that relevant requirements in technical regulations or standards are fulfilled.
USTR says interested parties should submit comments online via www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2013-0034, by Nov. 15.
(Federal Register 10/23/13)