Final answer:
International trade rules allow countries to set their own consumer safety standards, as long as they are based on science and do not discriminate unjustifiably. Universal quality standards could lead to standardized industrial product quality perceptions, but currently, there is no mandate for global uniform standards.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks whether the rules of international trade mandate that all nations impose the same consumer safety standards. According to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, it is acceptable for a country to establish laws requiring that all food products or cars sold within its borders meet certain approved safety standards. However, the standards applied must be based on scientific evidence and not be arbitrarily discriminatory between foreign and domestic companies, or between imports from different countries.
While universal adoption of quality standards could lead to standardized perceptions of industrial product quality, this is not currently the case. Every country has the autonomy to set its own consumer safety standards, as long as they don't discriminate unjustifiably against imports. Even if countries align their standards, there may still be differences in enforcement and perception of those standards. Higher safety standards on imported goods can be imposed if they are scientifically justified and don't arbitrarily discriminate against a country where identical or similar conditions prevail. The concept of universal quality standards promotes that a 'first best' approach would attack the issue of consumer safety at its root by establishing common standards, in contrast to tariffs or varying national standards, which may cause price increases and affect exports negatively. Such universal quality standards could facilitate trade and improve consumer safety if adopted globally.