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

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  • Cassehgari Posada, Kian
  • Ganne, Emmanuelle
  • Piermartini, Roberta

Abstract

In this paper we provide some evidence of the common claim that STCs improve transparency and monitoring as well as help mitigate trade conflicts. 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Cassehgari Posada, Kian & Ganne, Emmanuelle & Piermartini, Roberta, 2020. "The role of WTO committees through the lens of specific trade concerns raised in the TBT committee," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2020-09, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:wtowps:ersd202009
    DOI: 10.30875/94f84595-en
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Malo Beguin, 2022. "Specific Trade Concerns and Technical Barriers to Trade: evidence from a new database," LIDAM Discussion Papers IRES 2022023, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    2. Jackson, Lee Ann & Maggi, Federica & Piermartini, Roberta & Rubínová, Stela, 2020. "The value of the Committee on Agriculture: Mapping Q&As to trade flows," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2020-15, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Transparency; WTO reform; Monitoring; Value of WTO; Good Governance; DisputeSettlement; Negotiations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F02 - International Economics - - General - - - International Economic Order and Integration
    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • F55 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Institutional Arrangements

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