National Consultative TBT committee retreat

Attended the national Consultative TBT committee retreat held from 13th to 18th February 2023 in Machakos at the Gelian Hotel. The retreat was funded by by Trade Mark Africa.
The objectives of the retreat are:
• To develop an annual work plan for the TBT Committee, and align it with the Trademark
• Africa Regional Work plan on Standards-
• To prepare updates on the operation and administration of the TBT
• Agreement with regard to enquiry and notification point obligations
• To review new developments in the domestic technical regulations, standards, and conformity assessment procedures that may pose barriers to trade nationally and in trading partners
• To undertake technical evaluation of WTO TBT foreign notifications of interest to Kenya
• To review developments in the WTO TBT Committee and prepare for the upcoming TBT Committee meeting
• To discuss Specific Trade Concerns that need to be raised in WTO TBT Committee
• Development of National Positions with regard to WTO TBT issues for onward transmission to the Geneva - based Kenyan negotiators
• To review Technical Assistance needs through the State Department for Trade
• To review state of play in the negotiations and implementation of TBT agreement with the selected trading partners e.g. Ethiopia, USA, URT, Rwanda
• To receive an update on implementation of TBT matters at the EAC and the AfCFTA
• To undertake a thematic session on subject of interest to members e.g.
• Transparency, Technical regulations etc.