SPS Measures as Hidden Barriers to International Trade within WTO and EAEU (theory and practice)

INTRODUCTION. Since there are many threats in the modern world, states consider the essence of security in its various manifestations. A rather extensive understanding of security should be noted, as this concept applies to multiple directions of our life. So-called SPS measures are one of the vectors aimed at ensuring safety (protection) of human life and health. The scientific literature covers rather extensively SPS measures, taken by states, which include mandatory sanitary, veterinary and quarantine phytosanitary requirements and procedures. The novelty of the study is that SPS measures will be analyzed in terms of their use as hidden barriers to international trade, as well as how often they are used when a particular sanitary or phytosanitary measure imposed by a state or maintained in force by a member of an international organization restrains or can potentially restrain export of its goods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. In international trade certain issues of the contemplated problem are regulated by Article XX of GATT, as well as by the Special Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement). Security measures reflected in the Article XXI of GATT-94 are not considered.

RESEARCH RESULTS. Th author concluded that SPS measures construe hidden barriers to international trade. However, it is possible to establish "rules of the game", to agree on this problem in concluded agreements on the rules of application of SPS measures, minimizing the possibility of their unfair use. As for the EAEU law, it affects the development of international norms in the field under consideration.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The urgency of the issues dealt with in the article is based on the fact that every resident of any state in one way or another wants to be sure of the safety of all that he consumes and that the state or a number of states within the framework of an international organization are obliged to ensure this. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is no exception, it also faces similar tasks. The article analyzes the results of activities in the sphere of decision-making on SPS measures and the framework of the international organization of regional economic integration – the EAEU.

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