Technical regulations notified by World Trade Organization (WTO) members in the first to third quarters of this year hit an all-time high.
According to the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Oct. 19, technical barriers to trade (TBT) notified by WTO members through the third quarter this year totaled 3,304, up 4.0% from the same period last year (3,176), setting a new record high.
WTO members are obligated under the TBT Agreement to notify the WTO of developments when they establish or revise technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures that have a significant impact on trade.
TBT notifications totaled just 905 as recently as 2005, staying below 1,000. However, they rose rapidly thereafter, surpassing 4,000 annually for the first time in 2023. The surge appears to reflect intensifying U.S.-China competition and a shift by major countries toward strengthening domestic-centered trade policies.
By country, the United States notified 328 cases, up 8.6% from the previous year, as it established new safety regulations for road tests, rear bumpers, and fuel tanks in automobiles and revised energy-efficiency standards and test procedures for home appliances such as washing machines and air conditioners. China notified 167 cases, up 16.8% year over year, by establishing and revising safety regulations for household goods and fire protection equipment (such as fire detectors and extinguishers).
India, which established the "Safety of machinery and electrical equipment (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order" (Scheme X) in Aug. last year, will, starting Sept. 1 next year, restrict market entry for machinery newly included in the certification scope unless it is certified. The items covered include pumps, compressors, and cutting machines.
Kim Dae-ja, head of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards, said, "Recently, technical regulations in each country have been tightening," and added, "We will strengthen the provision of information so that domestic corporations hoping to export can prepare sufficiently before new technical regulations take effect, and, when necessary, support them by requesting implementation grace periods to ease corporate burdens."