|
TRADE
experts from the European Union (EU) and the members of
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) who
met in Manila have explored ways to reach an agreement
in addressing sensitive issues on technical barriers to
trade (TBT), convergence in adopting tariffs and rules
of origin as part of the negotiations for the
comprehensive free-trade agreement between the two
influential regional blocs.
Gabriel
Munuera Vinals, head of economic, political and public
affairs office of the Delegation of the European
Commission to the Philippines, said these issues, along
with the common rule to deal with intellectual-property
rights, have been discussed during the 5th Joint
Committee Meeting held in Manila last month.
“Both
sides discussed a number of issues that also include
government procurement and competition policy, as well
as trade and investment facilitation,” said Vinals in an
interview at the EU delegation. He added that so far,
“there is agreement to put one chapter on services and
investments in the context of the World Trade
Organization.”
The
agreement on TBT is an international instrument in the
field of technical regulations. It aims to ensure that
regulations, standards and testing and certification
procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to
international trade.
An EU
paper explaining TBT also said that the gradual
reduction of tariff barriers to trade has been
accompanied by an increase in the number of measures
creating technical obstacle to trade, thus the need for
an agreement on TBT. These obstacles include regulations
on packaging and labeling or conformity assessment
procedures.
“These
regulations may be intended to pursue a legitimate
objective, such as the protection of human health or
safety. |
