What is WTO?
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international organization dealing with global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
Belize became a signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on January 1st, 1995. As a member, it is obligated to the various agreements which include those relevant to agriculture, import licenses, technical barriers to trade among others. As one would expect, each agreement is administered by the respective government body or institution to ensure that the obligations under the various agreement are maintained.
Trade depends heavily on standards for competitiveness, market access, innovation, uniformity, etc. Standards are meant to ensure the free movement of goods from one market to another. Sometimes, however, the flow of goods can be disrupted by barriers to trade which prevent immediate access or ban altogether of a good. In some instances, these can be justified, in others they may not. The TBT afford countries the right to protect the health and safety of consumers a well as the environment, even to the extent that goods pose a threat to national security. These legitimate rights may often be abused as countries sometimes create unnecessary obstacles to trade to prevent access to their markets from heavy competition.
The Belize Bureau of Standards as a department in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Commerce has the responsibility to the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. This agreement, in short, addresses three main areas which include:
