THE ROLE OF STANDARDS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to reveal the role of international standards in the formation of the modern system of international trade and to determine the advantages and disadvantages of their implementation. The research methodology is based on the application of a systemic approach, which allows for a comprehensive consideration of international trade as a multi-level system of interconnected processes; analysis of international regulatory documents, and generalization of scientific developments in the field of international economics and standardization, which made it possible to systematize existing approaches to assessing the economic and political effects of the implementation of standards. Results. It has been established that standards perform a multifunctional role: they ensure product compatibility, stimulate innovation processes, contribute to economies of scale and reduce transaction costs, and also reduce information asymmetry, forming trust between market participants. This creates a complex economic effect, which is manifested in reducing costs, increasing productivity and expanding opportunities for entering new markets. At the same time, standards have a political effect, as they contribute to the harmonization of rules between countries, the reduction of trade barriers, integration into international organizations and the strengthening of the positions of states on the world stage. However, the process of their implementation is accompanied by difficulties: differences between national technical regulations, inequality of economic opportunities of states, insufficient development of quality infrastructure and the risk of using standards as a tool of hidden protectionism. The practical significance of the research results lies in identifying effective directions for improving the implementation of standards through the development of national infrastructure, the activation of international cooperation and the attraction of financial and technical support for developing countries. Prospects for further research are related to the analysis of the impact of standards on individual sectors of the economy, the assessment of the effectiveness of the harmonization of technical regulations and the study of their role in the conditions of digitalization of international trade.