Good regulatory practices and co-operation in trade agreements - A historical perspective and stocktaking

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Asher

Regulatory and trade policy increasingly intersect, with good regulatory practices incorporated into trade agreements through both existing transversal or sectoral chapters and newer standalone chapters. This working paper surveys standalone chapters dedicated to good regulatory practices and international regulatory co-operation. By comparing substantive and structural features, it supports the design of similar chapters in future agreements. The analysis also assesses how varying regulatory-policy maturity shapes ambition and effectiveness in strengthening existing regulatory practice under OECD and APEC commitments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages60

Reading Time21 min

AccessFree to download

Good Regulatory Practices and Co-operation in Trade Agreements

Introduction

The historical perspective: GRPs and IRC in trade agreements

Stocktaking of recent horizontal chapters on GRPs and IRC in trade agreement

Conclusions

References

Annex A. Structured information on standalone chapters

Annex B. The 2012 OECD Recommendation of the Council on Regulatory Policy and Governance

OECD Regulatory Policy Working Papers No. 14 Good regulatory practicesand co-operation in trade agreements: A historical perspective and stocktaking Céline Kauffmann, Camila Saffirio [https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/cf520646-en](https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/cf520646-en) OECD REGULATORY POLICY WORKING PAPERS Good regulatory practices and co-operation in trade agreements A historical perspective and stocktaking Céline Kauffmann*, Camila Saffirio* OECD REGULATORY POLICY WORKING PAPERS This series gathers together OECD working papers on the tools, governance and institutions of better regulation and their impact on policy outcomes. It includes both technical and analytical material, prepared by staff and experts in the field. Together, the papers provide valuable context and background for OECD publications on regulatory policy and governance. OECD Working Papers should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries. The opinions expressed and arguments employed are those of the authors. Working Papers describe preliminary results or research in progress by the authors and are published to stimulate discussion on a broad range of issues on which the OECD works. Comments on Working Papers are welcomed, and may be sent to either [gov.contact@oecd.org](gov.contact@oecd.org) or the Public Governance Directorate, OECD, 2 rue André-Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex 16, France. Authorised for publication by Elsa Pilichowski , Director, Public Governance Directorate. OECD Regulatory Policy Working Papers are published on [www.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/oecd-regulatory-policy-working-papers_24140996](www.oecd-ilibrary.org/governance/oecd-regulatory-policy-working-papers_24140996) Applications for permission to reproduce or translate all or part of this material should be made to: OECD Publishing, [PACRights&Risks@oecd.org](PACRights&Risks@oecd.org) or by fax 33 1 45 24 99 30. Good regulatory practices and co-operation in trade agreements: a historical perspective and stocktaking Céline Kauffmann*, Camila Saffirio* ABSTRACT In recent decades , regulatory and trade policy have become increasingly interconnected. Indeed, various good regulatory practices are often inserted in trade agreements either in existing transversal or sectoral chapters or, more recently, as part of standalone chapters. This paper documents this recent trend by presenting a stocktaking of standalone chapters in trade agreements dedicated to good regulatory practices and international regulatory co-operation. By comparing the main substantive and structural features in these chapters , this stocktaking aims to inform the development of similar chapters in future trade agreements. While standalone regulatory policy chapters in trade agreements remain a new development, they signal countries’ increasing interest in elevating the visibility and ambition of regulatory policy in line with their commitments as set out in the 2012 OECD Recommendation of the Council on Regulatory Policy and Governance and the 2005 APEC-OECD Integrated Checklist on Regulatory Reform. Still, how ambitious these chapters are depends on the state of play of regulatory policy in trading partners , which explains their variety. Overall, these chapters build on and complement existing rulemaking practices; the question is whether they will be effective at leveraging and strengthening good regulatory practices already in place. JEL Classification: F10, K2, K33, H11 Key words: Regulatory policy, good regulatory practices, international regulatory co-operation, trade agreements, CPTPP, CETA, USMCA, Pacific Alliance * OECD, France Acknowledgements This paper was developed by Céline Kauffmann and Camila Saffirio under the overall leadership of Nick Malyshev, Head of the Regulatory Policy Division, and Elsa Pilichowski, Director for Public Governance. The OECD Secretariat is thankful to the delegates of APEC’s Sub-Committee

FAQs

What trend does the paper document about regulatory and trade policy?

It documents the growing interconnection between regulatory and trade policy and the increasing inclusion of good regulatory practices within trade agreements, notably through standalone chapters.

How does the stocktaking in this paper support future trade agreements?

It compares the substantive and structural features of existing standalone chapters to inform the development of similar chapters in future agreements.

Why do standalone regulatory policy chapters differ in ambition across countries?

Their ambition depends on the current state of regulatory policy in trading partners, which explains observed variety.

Sep 11, 2026

Uploaded by Asher