Standards can disguise protectionism

ED RICHARDSON BARRIERS HAVE been created for exporters in developing countries with the setting of specific technical standards by certain governments, according to the World Trade Organization’s 2005 World Trade Report. The report, written by economists in the WTO Secretariat, points out that such norms can deliver important benefits in terms of information for consumers, environmental protection and compatibility among related goods and services. But technical standards can also be used as protectionist measures and can result in higher operating costs for developing country producers, according to the report.