MRAs are trade agreements aimed at facilitating market access and promoting greater international harmonization of compliance standards while protecting consumer safety. EPAs are usually concluded with candidate countries with which the EU has concluded association agreements (see our explanation of association agreements) and are a step in the accession process. The objective of the JEPs is to align the technical rules of a candidate country with those of the EU with a view to preparing for EU membership. This type of MRA is by nature temporary, as it disappears when the country enters the EU`s internal market. If the EU refuses to negotiate with the UK a similar system of mutual recognition, this may be contrary to the most-favoured-nation (MFN) obligation under World Trade Organisation (WTO) law. . . .