Technical Barriers to Trade
TEK-nih-kul BAIR-ee-erz tuh TRAYD
/ˈtɛk.nɪ.kəl ˈbær.i.ərz tə treɪd/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
Dictionary meaning
Product standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures that can create obstacles to international trade; governed by the WTO TBT Agreement which requires measures to be no more trade-restrictive than necessary.
Examples
- Different electrical plug standards in the US and EU create technical barriers to trade for appliance manufacturers.
- The WTO TBT Committee reviews notifications of new technical regulations from member countries.
Universally abbreviated as TBT in trade contexts.
Synonyms: TBT measures, product standards, conformity assessment, technical regulations
Pronunciation tips
TBT vs SPS: TBT covers product characteristics and industrial standards; SPS is specifically for food safety and plant/animal health. Both must be science-based and not unnecessarily restrictive.
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