Laws governing the use of technical standards as barriers to trade: The case of trade in livestock products

Abstract

This article reviews the history and current state of international law governing the application of technical standards to international trade. Conflicts surrounding the use of technical standards in livestock trade are described to illustrate some of the limitations of current GATT codes. The article includes a case study of a US firm's difficulties in exporting high‐quality beef to Europe. These illustrations provide the basis for some concluding remarks concerning possible changes in the GATT technical standards agreement that may be made as a result of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.