📋 Tender Overview
Project No.
SCSC_106_2026A
Project Title
*
Reducing Barriers Posed by Labeling Requirements
Project Status
Project in Implementation
Fund Account
*
APEC Support Fund
Sub-fund
ASF: Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and Global Value Chains (FTAAP and GVCs)
Project Year
2026
Project Session
*
Session 1
APEC Funding
95,985
Co-funding Amount
0
Total Project Value
95,985
Sponsoring Forum
*
Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC)
Topics
Trade Facilitation
Committee
Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI)
Other Fora Involved
Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved
Proposing Economy(ies)
United States
Co-Sponsoring Economies
Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Peru; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; Viet Nam
Expected Start Date
01/10/2026
Expected Completion Date
31/12/2027
Project Proponent Name 1
Kent Shigetomi
Job Title 1
Director
Organization 1
Office of the US Trade Representative
Telephone 1
+12023959459
Email 1
Kent_Shigetomi@ustr.eop.gov
Project Proponent Name 2
Not Applicable
Job Title 2
Not Applicable
Organization 2
Not Applicable
Telephone 2
Not Applicable
Email 2
Not Applicable
Declaration
Kent Shigetomi
Project Summary
Product labels convey important information about a product, such as nutritional value, conformity with standards or technical requirements, and safety information. Consumers rely on them for relevant information and regulators use them to protect health and safety. When labeling requirements differ between economies, suppliers must adapt by developing different labels, using stickers relevant to that particular market, or abandon the market as too costly. When producers, especially small ones, give up on a market, it deprives consumers of choice. The WTO TBT Agreement requires economies to ensure that regulations do not impose an unnecessary obstacle to trade and allows economies to apply measures to protect human health and safety.
This workshop will explore how economies can achieve policy goals, including through the adoption of relevant international standards, without impeding trade. We will explore how suppliers decide whether to absorb the costs associated with regulatory compliance or exit the market.
