Worried by the growing barriers to trade, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Doris Uzoka-Anite and the Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke has impressed on stakeholders the need to address these obstacles.
They made the call at a one day workshop organised by the SON in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment said the (FMITI) in support of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Abuja.
The Minister, who said cumbersome regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures, can stifle integration, limit market access, and undermine competitiveness.
She said, “As we strive to promote economic growth, development, and integration, it is imperative that we tackle the obstacles that hinder our technical barriers to trade.
“Technical trade barriers can hinder economic growth, limit market access, and undermine competitiveness. But, with collective efforts and collaboration, we can overcome these obstacles and unlock the potentials of our economies”.
Okeke, who sought collaboration among stakeholders to reduce barriers to trade, said the only way to harness the benefits of free trade is for the elimination of these trade barriers.
The SON chief, said the workshop was organised to enhance Nigeria’s trade capabilities in line with international best practices.
He said, “The TBT agreement is a critical component of the WTO’s framework, which aims to ensure that technical regulations, Standards and Conformity assessment procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade.
“But it is designed to balance the need for governments to implement measures to protect human health safety and the environment to align seamlessly with international best practices, facilitating smoother trade operations and fostering economic growth”.
Okeke, while urging for stakeholders collaboration in the sector, noted that the successful implementation of the TBT Agreement in Nigeria cannot be achieved by SON alone.
He reaffirmed the commitment of SON to promoting standardization and quality assurance in all sectors of our economy.
WTO TBT Agreement came into force on 1 January 1995, and serves as a cornerstone in promoting non-discriminatory practices, predictability, and transparency in global trade.
He also said the event would help Nigeria to align with Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu “renewed hope agenda”.
He reiterated that the participants were gathered to share a common objective: to enhance our understanding of the WTO TBT Agreement and to discuss how to effectively implement its provisions within the national framework.
According to him, it is designed to balance the need for governments to implement measures to protect human health, safety and the environment with the aim to align seamlessly with international best practices, facilitating smoother trade operations and fostering economic growth.
