However, recently, the European Commission`s trade negotiators rejected mutual recognition of conformity assessment carried out by UK testing laboratories. The EU`s single market is the most comprehensive version of mutual recognition between trading partners. According to the Cassis de Dijon principle, a product that can be legally sold in one Member State, even if the rules are not harmonised, can be legally sold in any other Member State. Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) are agreements between two trading partners aimed at eliminating technical barriers to trade. This is one of the issues that will play a role in the trade negotiations between the UK and the EU. Mutual recognition agreements lay down the conditions under which a Contracting Party (third country) produces the results of the conformity assessment (e.B. tests or certifications) carried out by notified conformity assessment bodies (CABs) of the other Party (EU) to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of The First Party (third country) and vice versa. However, recent free trade agreements indicate a change in approach and acceptance of “traditional” MRAs. For example, Article 4(6) and Article 7(21)(4) of the EU-Korea Free Trade Agreement provide for the negotiation of mutual recognition of conformity assessment for goods and services, respectively. Mutual recognition occurs when two or more countries or other institutions recognise each other`s decisions or policies, for example in the field of conformity assessment, professional qualifications or criminal matters. A Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is an international agreement whereby two or more countries agree to mutually recognise conformity assessments, decisions or results (e.g.

B, certifications or test results). A mutual recognition agreement is an international agreement based on such an agreement. For example, the European Commission`s recent free trade agreements with Canada and Korea provide for the conclusion of MRAs for conformity assessment without requiring partners to adapt their regulatory requirements to those of the EU. MRAs have become increasingly common since the founding of the World Trade Organization in 1995. They were forged within and between different trading blocs, including APEC and the European Union. [1] Washington, D.C. – Am 14. In February 2019, the U.S. Deputy Trade Representative, C.J.

Mahoney, and Ambassador Kim Darroch, AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED KINGDOM to the United States, signed two Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) covering telecommunications equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for information and communication technology products, Good Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Practices (GMP) inspections and marine equipment. These MRAs with the United Kingdom replicate the essential provisions of the existing MRAs between the United States and the European Union for these sectors and will ensure that trade between the United States and the United Kingdom in these product sectors will not be disrupted when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. U.S. exports of products covered by these agreements to the United Kingdom exceeded $5 billion in 2018. As part of the US-UK Trade and Investment Working Group, the US and UK are working to ensure the business continuity of UK and US businesses, workers and consumers when the UK leaves the EU. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer informed Congress on October 16, 2018, of the Trump administration`s intention to begin trade negotiations with the United Kingdom after leaving the EU. The UK document reaffirms the importance of regulatory autonomy – “compliance with each party`s regulatory law” – but also builds on some earlier considerations by suggesting that the agreement “should create a framework within which each party can require the other party to consider its technical regulation to be equivalent to its own regulation”. Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Conformity Assessments, Certificates and Markings between Canada and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway (Entry into force: January 1, 2001).

Sectors covered: telecommunications terminal equipment, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), electrical safety, recreational craft, good manufacturing practices (GMP) and medical devices. There are two other special cases. Turkey does not (yet) have an MRA with the EU, mainly because there is no practical need. Turkey, a candidate country, is part of the EU-Turkey Customs Union (see our statement on the EU-Turkey Customs Union), which removes restrictions on bilateral trade between Turkey and EU Member States. Agreement on the mutual recognition of conformity assessment of products between Turkey and EFTA (entry into force: 5 July 2011). Protocol E to the EFTA-Turkey Free Trade Agreement covers all harmonised product sectors in trade between the EEA-EFTA States and Turkey. As regards trade between Turkey and Switzerland, this Protocol shall apply to the sectors covered by the EU-Switzerland MRA where the respective legislation of this Agreement is considered equivalent. An overview of the sectors covered as well as links to the relevant conformity assessment bodies (CABs) are available here. Protocol No 12 to the EEA Agreement ensures the proper functioning and homogeneity of the EEA. The Protocol ensures that, when the EU takes the initiative to negotiate Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs), it negotiates on the basis that the third countries concerned conclude parallel agreements with the EEA EFTA States equivalent to those to be concluded by the EU [Box 1]. . .

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