Private-sector standards as technical barriers in international trade in goods : in search of WTO disciplines

Abstract

Private-sector standards, i.e. the standards developed, adopted and applied by private players such as supermarket chains, transnational corporations, and manufacturers of goods, are playing an increasingly important role in international trade. Because they are developed, adopted and applied by private entities, these standards are not legally mandatory. However, due to the immense purchasing power of big retail chains and multinational corporations which apply such standards, compliance with these standards may become mandatory for suppliers in order to gain real market access. This PhD dissertation explores the “world” of private-sector standards, as well as those WTO rules which may be relevant for the regulation of these standards and for addressing the challenges they pose. It thus contributes to the clarification and the better understanding of the rules applicable to private-sector standards under the WTO legal framework.