ABSTRACT
Removal of Technical Barriers to Trade The breaking down of barriers to trade. World trading policy is traditionally based, or should be in an ideal world, on the assumption that prosperity depends on the widest possible market through unimpeded exports and imports. It is easier and more economical to manufacture to one international standard than to design products for a large number of different individual national standards. It is easier to indicate requirements for purchase too. This works to the advantage of the efficient and to the disadvantage of the inefficient. Used properly, international standards can bring great financial advantage. The same product can be marketed anywhere and, because this reduces unnecessary manufacturing variety, costs will come down and the item should become more competitive.
