rights groups have sometimes warned that the World Trade Organization would require nations to reduce their

health and safety standards for imported products. However, the WTO explains its current agreement on the

Access for free at openstax.org
20.3 • Arguments in Support of Restricting Imports 487

subject in this way: “It allows countries to set their own standards.” It also says “regulations must be based on

science. . . . And they should not arbitrarily or unjustifiably discriminate between countries where identical or

similar conditions prevail.” Thus, for example, under WTO rules it is perfectly legitimate for the United States

to pass laws requiring that allfood products or cars sold in the United States meet certain safety standards

approved by the United States government, whether or not other countries choose to pass similar standards.

However, such standards must have some scientific basis. It is improper to impose one set of health and safety
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