Final answer:
International trade rules do not require all nations to impose the same consumer safety standards, but they should be based on science and not discriminate between countries without justification. Countries set their own standards but may aim for consistency within their jurisdiction, and imposing higher safety standards on imports needs a scientific basis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether standards should be the same across all countries in the coordination of international policy, particularly in reference to consumer safety standards, does not have a straightforward yes or no answer. The World Trade Organization (WTO) allows countries the autonomy to set their own standards, which means that there is no requirement for universal standards. However, what is vital is that these standards are scientifically based and do not discriminate unjustifiably between countries with similar conditions.
Countries may prefer policies set at their national level and may opt for standards of consistency across state and local governments. It is not considered legitimate under WTO rules to have one set of safety standards for domestic goods and another for imports, or to impose different standards on imported goods based on the exporting country, unless there is a scientific justification for this variance.
Finding a route to global acceptance of a plan that enforces uniform standards would be extraordinarily complex and is not currently required by international trade rules. It might imply the presence of a global governing authority, which does not currently exist. Therefore, while some argue for higher global standards on safety, the practicality and acceptability of such an approach are debatable.