National treatment is a fundamental principle of the trading system. It requires that imports be afforded `no less favorable' treatment thandomestic goods once border measures have been applied. It is important not to confuse this with teh MFN principle.

A country accords no less favorable treatment to imported goods than it does to domestic goods.

A commitment by a country to treat foreign products in the same manner as it would treat domestic products (provided the foreign products are ‘like’ their domestic counterparts).

In general, "national treatment" obligations of the NAFTA and WTO Agreements require that imported product be treated no less favourably than like domestic product. This has been interpreted in the past as maintaining national standards for inter-provincial and international trade. More recent interpretations by GATT panels suggest that national treatment under the WTO could require that imports into a province be subject to the lowest standards/requirements applying to any like product sold within the province. The NAFTA is clear on this point: it defines national treatment with respect to a province or state to be the best treatment provided to any domestic like product within that province or state. This implies that a province which allows the sale of goods meeting a particular provincial standard must also accept imported products meeting the same standard. For example, a province allowing uninspected product to be sold intra-provincially could similarly be obliged to accept imports of uninspected product.

Principle that foreign goods, services, and persons (investors), once they have entered a country, are treated in exactly the same way as national goods, services or persons.

A commitment under GATS which stipulates that all foreign service providers must be treated at least as well as domestic firms. They can be treated better (and often are), but not worse. This has an impact on government policies to encourage the growth of local businesses or policies that require foreign firms to use local suppliers and staff.

National treatment affords foreign individuals and firms the same competitive opportunities, including market access, as are available to domestic parties.

Non-discrimination between one's own nationals and foreigners.

A tenet of international trade agreements whereby nations cannot discriminate against imported goods and must give them the same treatment that they afford domestic or "national" products.

Affords individuals and firms of foreign countries the same competitive opportunities as are available to domestic individuals and firms.

When foreign companies are given the same competitive opportunities, including market access, and are subject to the same legal framework as domestic companies. Français: Traitement national Español: Trato nacional

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

National treatment is a principle in customary international law vital to many treaty regimes. Under national treatment, if a state grants a particular right, benefit or privilege to its own citizens, it must also grant those advantages to the citizens of other states while they are in that country. In the context of international agreements, a state must provide equal treatment to those citizens of other states that are participating in the agreement.