Elements of an Automotive Products NTBs Initiative

United States Perspective

Regulatory Regimes

• Safety and environment

Product Scope

• Autos and automotive products

Regulatory approaches

• Flexibility should be provided to accommodate multiple regulatory approaches

Transparency

• Strengthen transparency disciplines in a variety of ways. Specify a reasonable period of time for producers to comply with new technical regulations or conformity assessment procedures, where such would require a substantial change in automobile design or technology.

Good Regulatory Practices

• Costs of compliance and alternative approaches taken into account when formulating new technical regulations or conformity assessment procedures. Members have the flexibility to determine the best way to factor this in.

International standards

• Any standard that is developed in an open and transparent way in conformity with the TBT Committee Decision. No listing of specific standardizing bodies or standards.

Harmonization

• Promote greater alignment of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures through enhanced transparency, good regulatory practices, and participation in appropriate international standardizing bodies, as well as through provisions that encourage use of other Members’ technical regulations or conformity assessment procedures when relevant international standards do not exist.

Testing

• Testing is permitted to be performed outside the territory of the Member in a facility the Member considers competent. If product fails test or the testing facility is not deemed competent, notify the supplier or facility of corrective action to remedy the deficiency.

National Treatment

• Criteria for recognition of other Members’ conformity assessment bodies are no less favorable than for domestic CABs.

Review

• A Subcommittee would be established under the TBT Committee to review on a regular basis the operation of the agreement and discuss, as appropriate, Members’ regulatory approaches.