The removal of technical barriers to trade in the WTO era : a cause of gains and losses of power among national actors

The implementation of the 1994 GATT accords on technical barriers to trade led to an unprecedented level of trade liberalisation. Most countries have increased their economic interdependence. The role delegated to multinational enterprises has been considerably extended. It is suggested that they could become subjects of international law. Their participation in standardisation, eco-labelling and consultation programs increased. They also adopted private codes of conduct and have modernised the way they dialogue with regulatory authorities. One of the impacts of the Uruguay Round Agreements is a subtle reorganisation of forces within national economies. Tremendous responsibilities are progressively undertaken by private entities in domains where the state used to regulate unilaterally. The shift of power from public entities to private ones is discreet but has effects on all traditional sources of law. New forms of regulation on multinational enterprises need to be created. One of the main sources of innovation is a negotiated self-regulatio