The role of WTO committees through the lens of specific trade concerns raised in the TBT committee

We analyse the content of 555 STCs raised in the TBT committee in the period 1995-2018. We find that: (i) STCs are used to acquire new and higher quality information than that provided merely by notifications; (ii) STCs are used as a monitoring tool, thus making members more accountable; and (iii) STCs facilitate the resolution of trade concerns non-litigiously. By reviewing existing literature, we provide evidence that all this is important because transparency and monitoring reduce trade costs, improve regulatory practices and build and sustain trust.

We also indicate the potential for some reforms to improve the efficiency of the system. These include: introducing a reporting system on the outcome of STCs, use of STCs raised in committees to fill the gap of missing notifications, systematic use of the STC mechanism at the stage of draft measures, building-in the dispute settlement system the requirement to raise the matter and discuss it within the relevant committee before filing a formal dispute settlement case.

No: ERSD-2020-09

Auteurs: Kian Cassehgari Posada, Emmanuelle Ganne and Roberta Piermartini

Date de rédaction: mai 2020

Mots clés:

Transparency, WTO reform, Monitoring, Value of WTO, Good Governance, Dispute Settlement, Negotiations.

Cotes JEL:

F02, F13, F53, F55.

haut de page

Avertissement 

Ce document est un document de travail et concerne donc des recherches en cours. Les opinions qui y sont exprimées sont celles de ses auteurs. Elles ne sont pas censées représenter la position ou les opinions de l’OMC ou de ses Membres et sont sans préjudice des droits et obligations des Membres dans le cadre de l'Organisation. Les auteurs sont seuls responsables en cas d’erreur.

Télécharger le document en format pdf (24 pages, 476Ko; uniquement en anglais, ouvre une nouvelle fenêtre.)