Trade Policy, Standards, and Development in Central America

45 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Gary Clyde Hufbauer

Gary Clyde Hufbauer

Peterson Institute for International Economics; Institute for International Economics

Barbara R Kotschwar

affiliation not provided to SSRN

John S. Wilson

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

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Date Written: March 31, 2001

Abstract

After reviewing the current state of standards and trade in Central America, the authors suggest top priorities for reform from a trade policy perspective in a new and increasingly important area of public policy and development. They conclude that it makes sense to: a) take a regional rather than a national approach to setting up accreditation, testing, and metrology infrastructure - to share equipment, experts, and information to get more bang out of limited funding; b) promote regional bodies as venues for Central American countries to develop common positions in international discussions of the development of standards; c) regionalize information-gathering efforts and use information technology to disseminate that information rapidly; and d) push for a sunset clause in international standards developments, because standards have value only if adopted and used.

Keywords: Administrative & Regulatory Law, Environmental Economics & Policies, Labor Policies, Trade and Regional Integration, Health Economics & Finance

Suggested Citation

Hufbauer, Gary Clyde and Kotschwar, Barbara R and Wilson, John S., Trade Policy, Standards, and Development in Central America (March 31, 2001). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 2576, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=927867

Gary Clyde Hufbauer (Contact Author)

Peterson Institute for International Economics ( email )

1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Institute for International Economics ( email )

1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036-1903
United States

Barbara R Kotschwar

affiliation not provided to SSRN

John S. Wilson

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
MSN3-311
Washington, DC 20433
United States

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