WTO and Integrated Product Policy (IPP): trade law implications for the use of product policy instruments to reduce the risk of exposure and harm from hazardous substances in the life cycle of personal computers

This paper analyses the implications of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) trade rules for the use of product policy instruments in a potential Integrated Product Policy (IPP) approach to reducing the life cycle impacts of products. To demonstrate these implications, an example of the policy instruments for reducing the risk of exposure and harm from hazardous substances in the life cycle of personal computers (PCs) is used. The product policy instruments examined include regulatory instruments, economic instruments, compulsory information instruments, voluntary information instruments and voluntary agreements. It is found that the WTO rules do limit the ability of governments to use trade-restrictive, mandatory measures to address both the risks associated with uncertainty and limited knowledge and the upstream life cycle phases of raw material extraction and production processes of imported products. Governments have more leeway in the use of economic and voluntary instruments.