Tokyo Round Agreements

Tokyo Round agreements in Global Commerce Policy

In this regard, a definition of this issue is as follows: the collective name for the six codes on non- tariff measures, three sectoral agreements and four decisions, sometimes referred to as framework agreements, concluded as part of the Tokyo Round negotiations. Governments were able to choose to a large extent which of the agreements they would join. The codes are (a) the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, usually referred to as the “standards code” which seeks to ensure that technical regulations, standards, testing and certification do not become impediments to trade, (b) the Agreement on Government Procurement, aimed at bringing non-discrimination, competition and transparency into purchases made by governments, (c) the Agreement on Interpretation and Application of Articles VI, XVI and XXIII, usually known as the “subsidies code”, aimed at ensuring that subsidies do not harm the interests of other trading partners, (d) the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII, also known as the “customs valuation code” which seeks a fair, uniform and neutral system for the valuation of goods for customs purposes, (e) the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, aimed at ensuring that import licensing requirements are not in themselves restrictions on trade, and (f) the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI, usually known as the “anti-dumping code”, a revised version of the anti-dumping code negotiated during the Kennedy Round. The three sectoral agreements are (a) the Agreement Regarding Bovine Meat, aimed at expanding, liberalizing and stabilizing trade in meat and livestock, (b) the International Dairy Arrangement which sought to do the same for world trade in dairy products, and (c) the Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft under which participants eliminated customs duties on civil aircraft and parts. The four decisions concerned differential treatment for developing countries, trade measures taken for balance-of- payments purposes, greater flexibility for developing countries in taking trade measures for development purposes, and an understanding concerning improved dispute settlement measures. See also WTO plurilateral agreements and Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization.[1]

Tokyo Round agreementsin the wold Encyclopedia

For an introductory overview on international trade policy, see this entry.

Resources

Notes and References

1. Dictionary of Trade Policy, “Tokyo Round agreements” entry (OAS)

See Also