Challenges and Opportunities of Consumer Protection in the WTO Legal Framework

Implications for Ethiopia’s Accession

Abstract

Consumer protection is a key aspect of modern economies that
safeguards consumer rights against unfair practices and unsafe
products, especially in the context of global business interactions. The
World Trade Organization (WTO), widely charged with such
responsibilities, has been criticized for being overly producer-centered.
This paper examines such challenges of the consumer protection
regulatory framework of the WTO, particularly targeting consumer
protection provisions such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT), the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT),
and the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS). In
light of the examinations of these provisions, the paper critically
assesses Ethiopia’s legal and institutional capacity to implement these
rules, considering its limited resources and infrastructure. Through
qualitative analysis and an exploratory review of literature, and
Ethiopia’s trade-related laws, the paper found out that while the WTO
offers some consumer protection mechanisms, they are often vague and
impose stringent procedural requirements, which are difficult to fulfill
for developing countries like Ethiopia. Finally, the paper concludes by
offering policy recommendations for Ethiopia, emphasizing the need for
a stronger legal and institutional framework, enhanced technical
expertise, and effective dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure that trade liberalization benefits do not come at the expense of consumer
welfare.