This chapter provides a perspective of developing countries on the role of the World Trade Organization in solving Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) agreement and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreement trade conflicts caused by government regulations. The role of private standards impacting trade patterns is also highlighted. Four Brazilian international disputes related to sanitary and technical issues illustrate the complexity of challenges: the risk analysis requirements to import wheat from the USA; the Japanese phytosanitary requirements to control fruit-fly in imported mangoes; the European aflatoxins regulation on Brazil nuts; and the regionalization principle in foot and mouth disease (FMD). The ability of developing countries to comply with technical requirements is particularly influenced by investments on technological infrastructure and human capital.

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