How can the WTO help me to maintain market access for my garments in a country where it is alleged that dye stuffs dangerous to human health have been used in the production of the garments?
One important aspect of the WTO as an intergovernmental organization is that the obligations–relating to market access for goods, for example–are binding only on governments and do not directly affect private persons or enterprises. Simple consumer behaviour in an importing country based, for instance, on environmental or health considerations, is therefore not relevant in the WTO context. If, on the other hand, the government of the importing country issues a technical regulation or standard forbidding the entry of goods which have been treated with certain dye stuffs, the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade may provide the means to resolve the problem.
