Standardization policy of the EU and its implications for FTA: A comparative analysis of Korea-EU and Korea-US FTA

The WTO stipulates in the TBT Agreement that countries shall not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. Since differences in technical regulations, standards, as well as conformity assessment procedures create possibilities of preventing the free movement of goods, members have agreed to use international standards as a basis for these measures. Conclusions of FTAs are increasing as a strategy to facilitate international trade. Accordingly, measures to alleviate technical barriers to trade by means of FTAs are being increasingly implemented. There is a necessity to evaluate standardization policies that include aspects of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures considering that agreements finalized in the FTAs are based on the domestic policies of contracting parties. For instance, EU’s standardization policy is significant in regards to the effectuation of the Korea-EU FTA. The standardization policy of the EU evolved from the old approach through the new approach that harmonized standards within the region to the global approach that promotes the international standardization of European standards. EU’s policy which concentrates on harmonization based on international standards following the global approach was reflected in the articles of Korea-EU FTA. In the area of electronics and motor vehicles, Korea was required to harmonize its standards to the relevant international standards and in regards to conformity assessment, it was ultimately agreed that Korea implement the EU-type SDoC. Implications for countries that are expected to finalize an FTA with the EU are centered in the international standardization of national or regional standards to tackle EU standardization policy