# Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) restrict market access not through price mechanisms but through regulatory requirements—product standards, labelling obligations, and conformity assessment procedures that imported goods must satisfy before they can be sold.

Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) restrict market access not through price mechanisms but through regulatory requirements—product standards, labelling obligations, and conformity assessment procedures that imported goods must satisfy before they can be sold. The WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade requires member states to notify such measures transparently and apply them without discrimination across trading partners, preventing technical regulations from functioning as covert protectionism. For exporters and freight forwarders, TBTs mean conformity assessments, certifications, relabelling, and sometimes significant product modifications before shipment. Sectors most affected include processed foods, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. TBTs differ from sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS), which specifically address food safety and animal and plant health.

**Source:** [https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_e.htm](https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_e.htm)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 112 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_e.htm |

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