Final answer:
Countries can impose higher safety standards on imported goods to align with domestic policies and protect their population, despite international trade rules aiming for fewer trade barriers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether it is legitimate for a nation to impose higher safety standards on imported goods than might exist in the producing country. This deals with the rules and regulations of international trade as it relates to consumer safety and the movement of goods across borders.
It is standard practice and within the rights of any country to establish and enforce its own safety standards for products within its jurisdiction. Countries often have varied safety regulations due to differences in consumer preferences, economic conditions, and legal frameworks. While international trade rules aim to reduce unnecessary barriers to trade, they do not require nations to harmonize all of their consumer safety standards. Therefore, it is within the scope of national sovereignty for a country to decide if it should apply stricter safety measures on imports to ensure they align with domestic policies and protect its citizens.