WTO Agreements and Public Health : A Joint Study by the WHO and the WTO Secretariat

This study deals with the relevant WTO agreements and the way they may influence health and health policies.

It is meant as a primer for health professionals, trade negotiators, journalists and other interested parties, giving a better insight into key issues for those who develop, communicate or debate policy issues related to trade and health.

At the national level, health policy makers are increasingly interested in the two-way connection between trade and health.

The principle objective of the study is to describe the actual and potential linkages between relevant WTO agreements and health so as to enable both trade and health officials to better understand and monitor the effects of these linkages.

The study examines the main WTO agreements to health and health policies, namely the Agreements on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), Trade-related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), and Trade in Services (GATS).

The study focuses on eight health issues: infectious disease control; food safety; tobacco; environment; access to drugs; health services; food security and nutrition; and emerging issues, such as biotechnology. It also illustrates key areas where trade rules may either complement or conflict with national health policies.

To conclude, the study emphasizes the need or policy coherence between health and trade at the national and international level and identifies opportunities to achieve greater coherence in health and trade policies in support of health and development goals.