6 Countries, 11 Cases... KATS Removes Overseas Trade Technical Barriers Blocking Corporate Exports

Participation in WTO TBT Committee... Resolving 11 Export Issues from 6 Countries Including India, UAE, and Chile

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The National Institute of Technology and Standards under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on the 1st that it resolved 11 export difficulties faced by Korean companies at the 1st World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee held last month.

At this meeting, South Korea achieved outcomes such as regulatory improvements, implementation deferrals, or review of improvements regarding 11 technical regulations from six countries including India, Saudi Arabia, and Chile.

India decided to review the introduction of test items for refrigeration equipment that are identical to international standards and to postpone the certification implementation for air conditioners, related parts, and four types of chemicals, allowing Korean companies to secure sufficient preparation time.

Saudi Arabia revised the allowable tolerance range for the energy efficiency of heat pump-type clothes dryers to align with the international standard (IEC), preemptively eliminating concerns about local recalls of our export products. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) improved the QR code issuance system included on commercial air conditioners and packaging labels.

Chile accepted our request that the lower limit standard of the allowable tolerance range for energy and water consumption in washing machine management regulations hinders the sale of high-efficiency washing machines and decided to revise it.

Regarding 14 technical regulations from 8 unresolved countries, the National Institute of Technology and Standards raised them as Specific Trade Concerns (STC) in cooperation with the United States, the European Union (EU), and others at this 1st regular WTO TBT Committee meeting. STCs are agenda items where member countries officially raise objections to the WTO TBT Committee, mainly concerning issues with significant trade barrier impacts, urgent resolution needs, or requiring international cooperation.

An official from the National Institute of Technology and Standards stated, "We will promptly disseminate the results of this consultation to related industries so that export companies can immediately utilize them," and added, "For unresolved issues, the industry and related ministries will prepare response strategies and continuously consult with foreign regulatory authorities."