National Treatment

A tenet of international trade agreements whereby nations must afford imported goods the same treatment that they afford domestic or national products (no discrimination).

A tenet of international trade agreements whereby nations must afford foreign nationals, imported goods, services the same treatment that they afford such domestic or national items (i.e. no discrimination).

Also referred to as formal reciprocity.

It is frequently expressed by using the words "no less favourable" as in GATT (Article III):

"The products of the territory of any contracting party imported into the territory of any other contracting party shall be accorded treatment no less favourable than that accorded to like products of national origin in respect of all laws, regulations and requirements affecting their internal sale, offering for sale, purchase, transportation, distribution or use."

REFERENCES:

• Duhaime, Lloyd, Dictionary of International Law
• Duhaime, Lloyd, International Law
• Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Home-Country Rule
• Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Formal Reciprocity
• Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Material Reciprocity
• Duhaime, Lloyd, Legal Definition of Reciprocity