International Trade & Business Law_Week 4
A. Put the following measures under the correct category (SPS measures or TBT
measures)?
1, Một hạn chế về việc sử dụng lithium trong pin, vì lý do sức khỏe và an toàn (TBT)
2, Một quy định rằng tất cả các nhà máy nhập khẩu được miễn phí từ ruồi giấm Địa
Trung Hải (Medfly) (SBS)
3, Yêu cầu về kích thước, màu sắc và hàm lượng đường của trái cây (TBT)
4, Kiểm soát sử dụng thuốc bảo vệ thực vật trong trái cây, vì lý do an toàn thực phẩm
(SPS)
5, Thông số kỹ thuật về bao bì có thể tái chế cho dâu tây, cho mục đích môi trường
(TBT)
6, Yêu cầu động vật phải được tiêm phòng bệnh dại và chưa trải qua sáu tháng trước
khi nhập khẩu trong một khu vực vẫn xảy ra bệnh dại. (SPS)
7, Cấm sử dụng các sản phẩm CFC trong vi mạch, để bảo vệ tầng ozone (TBT)
8,Cấm nhập khẩu thịt gà từ các khu vực bị ảnh hưởng bởi cúm gia cầm, để bảo vệ chim
trong nước và sức khỏe con người (SPS)
9, Một quy định rằng không có máy giặt nào được thương mại hóa trong lãnh thổ sẽ có
mức tiêu thụ năng lượng trên 300 Kilowatt một năm. (TBT)
10, Kích thước giấy tiêu chuẩn của A4 do Tổ chức Tiêu chuẩn hóa Quốc tế (ISO) cấp
(TBT)
B. Identify what type of TBT measures are used in the following example?
Utopia has recently developed a number of technical rules concerning smartphones,
namely:
1. Utopia’s Electromagnetic Compatibility Act requires that smartphones be designed
and manufactured according to certain technical specifications to ensure that
electromagnetic disturbance generated by the use of these phones does not
exceed the level above which radio and telecommunications equipment cannot
operate as usual. TBT ( 1. Technical regulation)
2. Smartphones manufacturers are required to perform an electromagnetic
compatibility test of the phones in all normal intended operating conditions, on the
basis of conformity with relevant specifications of the Electromagnetic
Compatibility Act (conformity is certified by the manufacturer by affixing the “CE”
mark on smartphones). conformity assessment procedures
International Trade & Business Law_Week 4
3. Utopia’s Committee on Electrotechnical Standardization has developed a voluntary
mobile wireless standard for the incorporation of 5G cellular technologies in
smartphones. (Technical standard)
C. Scenario
Suppose that Patricia and Eutopia are WTO Members. Patricia is a major exporter of
lemons and Eutopia a major importer of lemons. Last year, Patricia's producers of lemons
experienced loss derived from increasing competition and decreasing international prices
for lemons, as well as the spread of a pest that affected lemon crops in Patricia.
At the beginning of this year, the government of Patricia approved the Lemon Support
Decree (the LSD), which launched a government programme directed to provide support
to lemon producers by providing payments contingent on exports. During the Uruguay
Round of negotiation, Patricia did not inscribe any export subsidies for lemons in its
Schedule of commitments.
With the support of the LSD program, Patrician lemon producers started increasing their
production and exportation of lemons. They also increased the use of pesticides for
prevention of another spread of pests in their lemon farms.
In face of the growing amount of imported lemons with high levels of pesticides residue,
Eutopia promulgated a regulation setting a maximum residue level (MRL) for all imported
lemons. In addition, it requested a labelling for each lemon informing the materials used
to grow it, aiming at protecting the health of consumers. Noted that Codex Alimentarius
Commission has set a MRL for pesticides in lemons, however it is not clear whether
Eutopia has based its measure on the Codex standard or not.
Eutopia believes that Patricia's LSD program violates the WTO Agreement on Agriculture
while Patricia claims that Eutopia's regulations are not consistent with the WTO
Agreements.
Question:
Suppose that you are an expert on WTO law, what would you advise Eutopia to argue
before a WTO Panel? For Patricia, which WTO Agreements would you consider relevant
to its claim?
SPS