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Protecting health, facilitating trade, or both?
1United States Department of Agriculture, APHIS International Services, U.S. Mission to the European Union, 1000 Brussels, Belgium. Alejandro.B.Thiermann@aphis.usda.gov
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|February 24, 2001
Summary
The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement balances health protection with fair trade. It has reduced trade violations and improved consumer safety and product diversity.
Area of Science:
- International Trade Law
- Agricultural Policy
- Food Safety Regulations
Background:
- The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) has addressed trade issues since 1947.
- The Uruguay Round aimed to establish science-based rules for health protection without creating trade barriers.
- The Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement emerged from these negotiations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the SPS Agreement's impact on international trade and national health regulations.
- To identify key issues addressed by the SPS Agreement and emerging challenges.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the SPS Agreement in promoting fair and safe global trade.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the SPS Agreement's provisions and outcomes.
- Review of trade dispute settlement cases related to SPS measures.
- Examination of transparency, harmonization, and risk analysis principles.
Main Results:
- The SPS Agreement has significantly reduced flagrant trade violations through improved transparency.
- It allows countries sovereign rights for public, animal, and plant health protection.
- Consumers benefit from increased product diversity and enhanced safety.
Conclusions:
- The SPS Agreement represents a significant gain for international trade and consumer welfare.
- Ongoing challenges include compliance with WTO decisions and addressing new issues like biotechnology and environmental concerns.
- Continued efforts for win-win solutions are crucial for the WTO system's survival.