Promoting consumer protection provisions in world trade agreements

The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) Working Group on Electronic Commerce recommends that governments of the US and EU should: a. recognize that the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the rise of electronic commerce and other aspects of the globalization of commerce require citizens to confront difficult problems associated with the development of global norms and enforcement mechanisms for the protection of consumers; b. acknowledge that the WTO's role in consumer protection measures is currently a negative one, eliminating regulatory measures that are judged to be barriers to trade. In contrast, the WTO lifts global standards for the protection of intellectual property; c. begin a dialogue with consumer groups and governments on the issues related to the development or reform of international organizations that can or should play a role in elevating global consumer protection; and d. consider and discuss the feasibility of proposals to create one or more permanent institutions that have as the central mission the protection of consumers in the global economy.