# WTO National Treatment

*Last updated: 2026-06-18*

> Once imported goods have crossed the border of a WTO member and entered free circulation, the National Treatment principle takes hold: those goods must not be treated less favourably than like domestic products with respect to internal taxes, levies, technical regulations, or any other measure affecting competition.

Once imported goods have crossed the border of a WTO member and entered free circulation, the National Treatment principle takes hold: those goods must not be treated less favourably than like domestic products with respect to internal taxes, levies, technical regulations, or any other measure affecting competition. The rule closes a potential loophole – preventing members from offsetting eliminated border barriers with discriminatory domestic measures. WTO National Treatment, alongside Most-Favoured-Nation status, forms the second pillar of the multilateral trading system and extends, in adapted form, to trade in services and intellectual property. A practical customs example: an imported piece of machinery cannot be subject to a higher excise duty than an equivalent machine of domestic manufacture.

**Source:** [https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact2_e.htm](https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact2_e.htm)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | WTO National Treatment |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 116 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-18 |
| Source | https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/fact2_e.htm |

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