Chapter 10: Laws Governing Access to Foreign Markets

even when a standard is voluntary, many consumers may look for wbat?

the seal of compliance in making a purchasing decision.

in general, what are the ISO standards intended to do?

the standards are intended to ensure prod- uct quality, safety, efficiency, and interchangeability, although some standards have been adopted to mini- mize the impact of manufacturing or the use of prod- ucts on the environment

how does the TBT Agreement minimize technical barriers to trade?

there are 3 methods of achieving this goal: 1)harmoniza- tion, by which nations attempt to bring their standards and technical regulations into harmony with interna- tionally accepted standards. 2)equivalence, by which nations agree to accept foreign standards that are functionally equivalent to their own. 3)mutual recognition. Nations are encouraged to enter into mutual recognition agreements, whereby they recognize the certifications, or conformity assessments, of foreign inspection firms and laboratories approved in the coun- try where the article is manufactured

what are the negative effects that could occur with programs designed to protect farm interest?

these programs usually lead to consumer prices that are much higher than they would be in a free market, and that contributes to the buildup of food surpluses

why do we caution against over reliance on the differences between the terms "technical regulation" and "standard regulation"?

they are sometimes used interchangeably. In some countries "standards" can also be mandatory

what is true about GATS signatory countries?

they can can place no limit on the number of foreign service providers or on the number of people they may employ.

what was the issue in the U.S-Measures Affecting the Production and Sale of Clove Cigarettes?

this case discusses the nondiscrimination provi- sions of the TBT Agreement, and pits one nation's effort to protect public health with its commitments to follow international trade rules

China's compulsory certifi- cation and inspection system covers what?

thousands of consumer and industrial products

how do companies become ISO 9000-certified?

through a costly and rigorous inspection of their facilities and docu- mentation of their quality control systems

how does china enforce its product quality standards?

through compulsory product testing, factory inspec- tions and certifications, and by the accreditation of testing laboratories

what does TRIPS require every WTO country to do?

to abide by the most import- ant international intellectual property conventions and then calls on countries to grant even greater protection to inventors, authors, and trademark owners

what is the primary goal of the TBT Agreement?

to minimize technical barriers to trade

what kind of power does section 301 give to the president?

to retaliate against any foreign country whose acts or policies are found to be unreasonable or discriminatory and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce

t/f. standards foster international business and trade, because they make it easier and cheaper to design and build products that comply with one international standard than to design products that comply with dozens of local stan- dards

true

t/f. EU countries understand that uniform standards are essential to a unified market

true.

t/f. ISO Standards are legally enforceable in countries where they have been incorporated into a treaty or into national law

true.

t/f. It is usually more cost-effective for a manufacturer to meet foreign performance standards than design standards

true.

t/f. Japan maintains complex technical regulations on thousands of important products, including electri- cal appliances, telecommunications and medical equip- ment, lumber, electronic components, pharmaceuticals, and food.

true.

t/f. it is easier for Japanese manufacturers to meet U.S. perfor- mance standards than for U.S. manufacturers to meet Japanese design standards.

true.

with AGP, what is true about a procuring agency?

A procuring agency must treat foreign suppliers equally with domestic suppliers. a government agency may not discriminate against local suppliers just because they are foreign-owned

t/f.

Countries may protect their cit- izens to the extent they deem necessary but must choose those methods that do not unduly burden international trade and/or single out foreign goods or service provid- ers for unfair or discriminatory treatment.

China will still accept imports of covered prod- ucts without the CCC mark.

FALSE

t/f. Foreign manufacturers and importers alike do not hae to be familiar with the regulatory systems of the countries where their products will be sold.

FALSE

t/f. the trade-related investment measure sets broad rules for local investing, such as rules affecting domestic stock exchanges.

FALSE

what is one of the most commonly known ISO standard?

ISO 9000 and ISO 14000

What is ISO 9000?

ISO 9000 has become the standard for ensuring product quality through the product design and manufacturing process

what does the China Compulsory Certification Mark or CCC Mark mean?

Products that meet the quality and safety requirements for certification may receive this

t/f. A foreign country acts unreasonably if its policies toward U.S. firms are unfair or inequitable, even if they are not in violation of any international agreement

TRUE

t/f. Agencies must give adequate notice to potential bidders when a procurement contract is announced and must disclose all the information necessary for foreign bidders to participate

TRUE

t/f. As a general rule, large-scale procurement by govern- ments or government agencies is exempt from the nor- mal WTO rules for trade in goods and services

TRUE

t/f. Because intellectual property rights (IPRs) are not "goods," they did not fall within the bounds of the 1947 GATT agreement

TRUE

t/f. By meeting ISO requirements, firms no lon- ger have to certify each product individually in every European country

TRUE

t/f. Foreign inspection and testing requirements can prove to be a tremendous barrier to trade

TRUE

t/f. GATS has special provisions governing how national or local governments set the qualifications for licensure—such as those for accountants, attorneys, engineers, or phy- sicians.

TRUE

t/f. GATT contains an exception to its national treatment provision that permits gov- ernment agencies to favor domestic suppliers when making purchases.

TRUE

t/f. If a country's national standards are based on the Codex Alimentarius, they are deemed to be in compliance with the SPS Agreement

TRUE

t/f. Importers are also sub- ject to these regulations; any of their products entering into the United States must meet these standards. If they cannot produce the certification, their goods will be denied entry or removed from stores.

TRUE

t/f. Most nations require their government agencies to give a preference to domestically made products

TRUE

t/f. The AGP does not bind all WTO countries, but only to those countries that have signed and ratified it, including the U.S, Canada, Japan, and the EU.

TRUE

t/f. The Japanese government's objective is to maintain self-sufficiency in rice production by ensuring the economic health of rice farmers

TRUE

t/f. The USTR is required to take action against a foreign country that is found to have violated its trade agree- ment with the United States (such as raising tariffs above its bound commitment or denial of MFN status) or whose policies or actions are unjustifiable and burdens or restricts U.S. commerce

TRUE

t/f. There are also specific buy-American provisions in the other statutes applicable to procurement for mass transit projects and to procurement by the U.S. Depart- ment of Defense that must purchase domestic products unless those products are more than 50 percent more expensive than competing foreign goods

TRUE

t/f. Those who favor unilateralism usually do so because they believe it furthers a nation's self-interest.

TRUE

trade-related investment measure attempt to reduce restrictions on foreign invest- ment that might restrict cross-border trade in goods and services. It also eliminates discrimination against foreign firms and their goods and services to the extent that those restrictions distort or restrict trade

TRUE

what are technical barriers to trade?

Tech- nical regulations and standards that apply to imported foreign products, even if they also apply equally to domestic products,

what is the CE Mark?

The CE Mark is an internationally recog- nized symbol for quality and product safety for many different types of products, such as children's toys, gas appliances, machinery, and medical and electrical equipment

what was the case decision on the European Communities Measures Concerning meat Case?

The EC's ban on the sale of beef containing residues of growth hormones was found to violate the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phy- tosanitary Measures. Where an existing internationally accepted standard permits beef to contain a residue of a certain growth hormone, an EC regulation permitting zero residue is in violation of the agreement. Where no internationally accepted standard exists on the residue of a certain hormone, the EC ban on that hormone is not permitted because it is not based on a risk assess- ment made using scientifically accepted principles

who maintains on online database of standards and technical regulations in Japan?

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

what was the decision of the U.S-Measures Affectign the Production and Sale of Clove Cigarettes?

The U.S. regulation is not justified. The TBT Agreement prohibits technical regulations that treat imported products less favorably than "like products" of domestic origin. Clove-flavored cigarettes and menthol-fla- vored cigarettes are "like products" due to their compet- itive relationship in the marketplace.The less favorable treatment accorded flavored cigarettes from Indonesia was not justified by a "legitimate regulatory distinction

what 2 different statues does Section 3 set for when the U.S government may retaliate against foreign trade barriers?

The first defines when retaliatory action by the USTR is mandatory, and the second defines when it is discretionary

what was te decision for the thailand-restriction on importation of cigarettes case?

The licensing system for cigarettes was con- trary to Article XI:1 and is not justified by Article XX(b). The panel recommended that Thailand bring its laws into conformity with its obligations under the GATT.

what is the purpose of the WTO agreeement on Trade in Financial services as part of the GATS agreement ?

The purpose of the agreement is to open com- mercial banking, securities, and insurance industries . The agreement is intended to promote efficiency, reduce costs, and provide consumers with a greater choice of service provid- ers, while still permitting countries to regulate these industries for the protection of investors, depositors, and consumers.

what are the several exceptions to the U.S Buy American Act?

The restrictions do not apply if U.S.-made goods are not available in sufficient quantities or quality, if the U.S.- made goods are unreasonably more expensive to purchases under $2,500, to goods purchased for use outside the United States, where purchasing domestic goods would not be in the public's best interest, or where the terms of a trade agreement provide for nondiscrimination in procure- ment

what is the japan industrial standards mark or JIS mark?

The symbol of an approved product in Japan

to be competitive in a global market, what must firms do?

They must be able to sup- ply services or conduct procurement, manufacturing, assembly, and distribution operations on a global scale

what does the european committee for standardization do?

This intergovernmental agency works with manu- facturers, including some European subsidiaries of U.S. firms, and with scientists to develop workable product standards.

what is the principle of least restrictive trade relevant to?

This prin- ciple is relevant to all types of regulations: health codes, environmental regulations, worker safety laws, and uni- form technical specifications for a wide range of indus- trial or consumer products.

when do products become legally binding for products sold in europe?

When adopted by directive of the European Council

what occurs in the event of a disagreement between a supplier and a procuring agency?

a country must allow the supplier to challenge the contract before either an inde- pendent administrative review board or the courts

what is a sanitary and phytosanitary measure?

a government rule or regulation that protects or enhances food, ani- mal, or plant safety or quality, including preventing the spread of pathogens and disease

what is a technical regulation?

a law or regulation affecting a product's characteristics—such as its performance, design, construction, chemical composition, materials, packaging, or labeling—that must be met before a product can be imported or sold in a country

what is a trade-related investment measure?

a national rule or regulation on foreign invest- ment that has a direct or indirect effect on trade in goods

to help in adminstering the (IPRs) statue, what has the USTR created?

a watch list and priority watch list

what are market access agreements?

agreements that provide exporters of goods and services with market acess to foreign countries in the following areas: 1. technical barriers to trade, including local or national standards that products must meet before they can be sold in a market, 2. government procuremnet of goods and services, 3. trade in services, including consulting, engineering, banking, and financial services, insurance, telecommunications, and the professions, 4. trade in agriculture products, 5. trade-related investment measures, and 6. trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights

the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade applies to all products include what?

agricultural, industrial, and con- sumer goods.

what is a product standard?

also called a "standard" in this chapter, is usually used when referring to a voluntary guideline for product characteristics established by a recognized pri- vate or industry organization or association

what is similar to rules for trade in goods and the GATS agreement?

also contains MFN trade and nondiscrimination provisions.

what is an example of a procurement offset?

an offset might be a condition that the foreign firm awarded the contract must use local subcontrac- tors, domestically made materials, or local labor; that the firm agree to license its technology to local firms; that the firm make local investments; or that the firm engage in countertrade

the principle of least restrictive trade appears through out___and___.

appears through- out the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and other WTO agreements

Once a European manufacturer receives the mark, it may sell its products throughout the EU but still must under- go inspections in each individual country

false, they don't have to under-go inspections in each individual country.

t/f. The president cannot waive the requirements of the Buy American Act for suppliers from any country that is party to the AGP and complies with the AGP's terms in its own procurement practices

false, they may waive this

t/f. Chinese rules require that covered products receive certification after import

false, they require this prior to import

t/f. The SDR cannot be readily exchanged by governments for national currencies and lends stability to currency markets

false, yes it can

t/f. Legal changes have now made it impossible for a foreign firm to register with the appropriate regulatory ministry and to obtain advance product approval. They still have to go through a Japanese importer or intermediary

false. It has made it posssible, they don't have to go through japanese importer intermediary

what is agricultural export subsidies?

payments or other benefits given to farmers that directly encourage, or are conditional upon, the export of food or agricultural products

U.S standards by contrasts, are usually based on what?

performance standards

what are the two major regulatory approaches?

prior approval and prior certification.

what does the GATS agreement prohibit?

prohibits countries from imposing a requirement that local investors own any percentage of the service company (leaving that up to the parties

what does the TBT Agreement prohibit?

prohibits countries from using their regulations or standards to discriminate against the import of foreign goods

what does the ISO 14000 do?

provides guidelines for environmental management. It does not set criteria for pollution or environmental impact. Rather, it requires that a firm establish a manage- ment system for setting its own environmental objec- tives, complying with national or local environmental laws, and continuing to improve its environmental performance

What is trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS)?

refers to government rules or regulations on IPRs that have a direct or indirect effect on trade in goods

what does transperncy mean in the regulatory context?

refers to the extent to which government regulations (including customs and import procedures, as well as technical regulations, product standards, and others) are made readily avail- able to the public, including foreign firms

what are local contect requirements?

regulations dictating that a foreign company or other producer must use a certain mini- mum percentage of locally made parts or components in the manufacture of a product

What does the APG require from countries?

requires fair, open, and nondiscrim- inatory procurement practices and sets up uniform procurement procedures to protect suppliers from different countries.

what is the U.S Buye America Act?

requires federal agencies to purchase goods of U.S. origin rather than foreign-made goods

what is one of th most important legal weapons in the U.S arsenal against foreign trade barriers and unfair trade practices?

section 301

what are SDRs?

special drawing rights

what does the principle of least restrictive trade state?

states that WTO member countries, in setting otherwise valid restrictions on trade, shall mak them no more omerous than necessary to achieve the goals for which they were imposed. If insepction is required, it should not be a trade barrier in disquise

what do those opposed to unilateralism believe?

that a nation's self-interest is best furthered by gaining support from other nations.

what was the issue of the U.S-Sections 301-310 of the trade act case?

the EU argued that section 301 violated WTO dispute settlement procedures. a dispute settlement panel held that Section 301 does not violate U.S. obli- gations under GATT if it is applied in accordance with WTO dispute settlement provisions.

what are some Japanese aagencies that enforce technical regulations ?

the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, which has the widest authority, and the minis- tries that oversee the health, agriculture, and transpor- tation sectors

who negotaites with violating countries that violate the AGP and try to get them to end unfiar practices an give equal acess to U.S firms?

the U.S trade Representative (USTR)

what are special 301?

the U.S uses this to assure that American-owned intellectual property rights (IPRs) are adequately protected in foreign countries

if no agreement with the USTR and the violated country is met, then what must the USTR do?

the USTR must present the case to the WTO for dispute settlement. If an agreement or resolution is still not reached, the pres- ident must revoke the waiver of the Buy American Act, and preferences for domestic suppliers will be allowed.

What agency governs most largescale government procurement?

the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (AGP)

what are two other trade agreements that will have an effect on world trade ?

the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Invest- ment Measures and the WTO Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

what rules does the AGP reverse?

the WTO rules that allow government agencies to favor domestic products

stadard settin in he EU for nonelectrical products is a focus of who?

the european committee for standardization

the standards policy of the EU is designed balance what?

the health and safety interests of member coun- tries with the need for the free flow of goods

what was the issue on the European communities-Measures Comcerning Meat case?

the panel held that the European ban on the sale of beef containing residues of growth hor- mones violated the SPS Agreement

what is unilateralism?

the pol- icy that a nation should retaliate unilaterally against another country that discriminates against its products or firms rather than relying on an established interna- tional or multilateral framework for resolving trade disputes

according to congress, the responsibility for implementing the AGP, lies with who?

the president

what is the U.S Section 301 of the trade Act of 1974?

the primary statute that permits the United States Trade Representative (USTR), on direction of the president, to take retaliatory trade action against other countries whose acts or trade policies toward the United States (or its companies or products) are unreasonable or discriminatory, or in violation of a trade agreement

what is government procurement?

the purchase of goods and services by government agencies at all levels

t/f. A Section 301 action can be initiated by petition of any interested party or firm, or by the USTR.

TRUE

what is Codex Alimentarius?

"food code" for the protection of the world's food supply

how to prior approval countries regulate their products?

"prior approval" countries, reg- ulated products must undergo testing and inspection by an approved laboratory, receive a certification of compliance with technical standards, and then receive prior regulatory approval before sale

the SPS Agreemet opens markets for agrcultural ecports by requiring that the protective measures taken by nations....?

(1) may not be more trade-restrictive than required and may be applied only to the extent neces- sary for the protection of human, animal, or plant life; (2) may not be a disguised restriction on trade; (3) must be based on a risk assessment made according to sci- entific principles and scientific evidence; (4) may not unjustifiably discriminate between countries where sim- ilar threats prevail; and (5) must ensure that inspections of imported products are fair and reasonable and are completed without delay

what are the TBT Agreement main provisions?

1. All technical regulations shall be applied on a non- discriminatory basis, 2. Technical regulations must not be made or applied to create an unnecessary obstacle to trade, 3. Countries should take into account available sci- entific and technical information in writing their standards, 4. Wherever possible, performance abilities of the prod- uct rather than on design or descriptive characteristics should be the basis for product requirements, 5. Countries should develop and use internationally accepted standards where they exist, 6. Countries should work toward the goals of harmo- nization of standards and equivalence, 7. Proposed standards must be published and made available to foreign countries, and those countries must be given an opportunity to make written com- ments prior to adoption, 8. Final regulations must be published a reasonable time before they become effective so that foreign producers have time to adapt their products, 9. Testing and inspection procedures should restrict trade as little as possible and should not discriminate, 10. Nations should accept the testing reports and cer- tifications from approved foreign inspection firms and laboratories , 11. Countries should try to ensure that state and local governments, as well as private standard-setting groups, comply with the agreement, 12. Disputes between countries may be referred to the WTO for negotiation and settlement.

in what 4 different ways does GATS provide for international service?

1. Services supplied from one country to another (e.g., international telephone calls), officially known as cross-border supply., 2.Consumers or firms making use of a service in another country (e.g., tourism), officially known as consumption abroad., 3. A foreign company setting up subsidiaries or branches to provide services in another coun- try (e.g., foreign banks setting up operations in a country), officially known as commercial presence, 4.Individuals traveling from their own coun- try to supply services in another (e.g., teachers or consultants), officially known as presence of natural persons.

what 3 main objective does the WTO agreement on Agriculture have?

1. cutting domestic subsidies and other direct payments to farmers. 2. cutting programs that subsidize exports of farm products. 3. assuring greater market access for imported farm products by converting quotas and other nontraiff barriers to into tariffs

how many industry trade associations are allied with AQSIQ in setting stan- dards and technical regulations

10

as of 2016, how many countries have ratified the AGP?

47

to ensuer that procurement rules are appled fairly, what does the AGP do?

AGP sets up procedures for governments to follow

The EU has atttempted to increase its standardization through what?

CE Mark (CE means Conformité Européene)

what does the APG apply to?

It applies to the purchase of goods or services by national governments worth more than 130,000 SDR and to con- struction contracts worth more than 5 million SDRs

what does the U.S Farm Bill do?

It establishes U.S. agricultural and food pol- icies, programs, and funding for that period

what does the WTO agreeement in technical barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) do?

It governs the use of technical regulations, product standards, testing, and certifications by WTO member countries

what is the purpose of the WTO Agreement on Basic Telecommunication as part of the GATS agreement?

It includes regulation of voice and data (land and cellular) systems, satellite systems and services, paging and oth- ers. The agreement binds 108 countries to MFN trade and to open their telecommunications markets to for- eign competitors.

what deoes TRIPS prohibit?

It prohibits countries from impos- ing requirements on foreign firms in exchange for being granted trademarks, patents, or copyrights

what does the JIS mark on a product signify?

Its appearance on a product, although voluntary, indicates that the manufacturer has submitted to on-site inspections by the appropriate Japanese ministry and has met accepted standards for quality control, production techniques, and research methods

the prolific use of technical requirements in Japan is rooted in what?

Japan's protective attitude toward consumers, the historical role of the Japanese govern- ment in economic life, and the Japanese people's accep- tance of governmental regulation of business

what was the decision of the U.S-Sections 301-310 of the trade act case?

Sections 301−310 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974 were found to be valid under the GATT 1994 agree- ments. The panel clarified that the United States may impose retaliatory trade sanctions against other WTO members only where the United States strictly followed WTO dispute settlement rules and when authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body

what was the purpose of U.S Section 338?

When it was passed, the stat- ute gave broad and somewhat vague authority to the president to impose additional punitive import duties of up to 50 percent of the value of an import on prod- ucts arriving from any country that the president believes has "disadvantaged" or discriminated "against the commerce of the United States." It also allowed the president to bar import of products from that foreign country

what is procurement offsets?

awarding a contract to a foreign firm on the basis of certain conditions

what is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)?

based in Geneva, is a nongovernmental organiza- tion comprising the national standards institutes of 163 countries. It has developed over 21,000 standards for goods, services, manufacturing and technology in many industries.

why has trade in agricultural goods been impeded in some countries?

because some countries use food safety as an excuse for blocking agriculture imports

what did the WTO agreement on agriculture do?

begin the process of removing government intervention in the farming sector and ending government programs that distort normal market conditions

agricultural policies inn the EU are governed by who?

by its Common Agricultural Policy

TRIPS disputes are settled by who?

by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body

the North American Freed Trade Agreement governs the free flow of services among who?

canada, mexico, and the U.S

what are design standards?

characteristics that govern how a product should be designed

what are performance standards?

describe how products should function

product standards in Japan have generally taken the form of what?

design standards

what is the WTO Agreement on the application of sanitary and Phystosanitary measures (the SPS Agreement) designed for?

designed to allow governments to protect human, animal, and plant life from infestations, contaminants, pesticides, toxins, harmful chemicals, or disease-carrying organ- isms

what are domestic susidies?

distort mar- kets by causing overproduction and suppressing prices while protecting the incomes of farmers

what does the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) do?

establishes rules for international trade in ser- vices.

t/f. The TBT Agreement is binding on just some WTO member countries

false, it is binding on ALL WTO member countries

t/f. Unilateralism works alonsgide with the principles of the WTO system

false, it is in direct conflict with the principles of the WTO system

t/f. In the United States,few states are also bound by the AGP.

false, many are

t/f. ISO standards are not voluntary and are legally binding, and the organization has legal authority to enforce them

false, they are voluntary, not legally binding, and they do not have legal authrity to enforce these standards

t/f. China does not have a complex regulatory system govern- ing product quality, safety, and other standards and technical regulations.

false, they do.

what are trade in services?

includes areas such as global com- munications, travel, tourism, professional services (law, accounting, architecture, engineering, management consulting, and others), health care, transportation and distribution, finance and banking, insurance, computer and IT services, research and development, advertis- ing, market research, entertainment, repair and main- tenance, education, environmental engineering, and waste management

what was the issue for thailand-restrictions on importation of cigarettes?

is an early GATT panel decision that the WTO Appellate Body still cites. It considers Thailand's options for reducing tobacco use. As you read, consider reviewing the GATT/WTO national treatment provisions

what are some several exlusions from the AGP rules?

it includes purchases to be sent to foreign countries as foreign aid; purchases by the Department of Agriculture for food distribution or for farm support programs; and some purchases made by the Federal Aviation Adminis- tration, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense related to national security

what are trade-balancing requirements?

laws that condition a company's right to import for- eign goods on the basis of the volume of goods that company exports

what does the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) do?

maintains an online "standards portal" that gives firms access to English translations of standards and techni- cal regulations in China, India, and Korea, as well as various U.S. standards in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Korean

what does the japan external trade organization (JETRO) do?

maintains an online database of standards and technical regu- lations in the areas of food and plant safety, electronic products and electrical appliances, household goods, consumer and industrial products, chemicals, food imports, and others

if an EU manufacturer is seeking the CE mark, what steps must they go through?

manufacturers seeking the mark are inspected and audited by an EU-authorized body, and an independent laboratory must test their products. Once a European manufacturer receives the mark, it may sell its products throughout the EU without under- going inspections in each individual country

to protect farm interest, what do many governments provide?

mar- ket stability and price supports by controlling domestic price through subsidies and large purchases of excess agricultural products and food. Some countries impose import restrictions on raw and processed food products. Some countries provide guaranteed incomes to farmers or provide payments to leave land unfarmed. Some pro- vide aid for weather-related disasters

can governments use the SPS agreement restrictions as excuses to keep out foreign goods?

no

can the EU member country prohibit the sale of a product produced in another EU member coutry, even when that product had already met the technical specifications of the producing country?

no

does the TBT Agreement contain standards of its own?

no, It makes no attempt to say how a product should perform or be designed or when a product is safe or unsafe. These are matters for nations and governments to decide