He should know very well that OpenXML is a likely target of TBT complaints, so he turns the case around.

Nice try. Problem: WTO is not stupid.

However, even persons who should be smart talk garbage when it comes to international treaties.

Example: the "implementation" of the Council of Europe [!= EU] cybercrime convention and the lack of its "ratification". From a public official I expect the knowledge that the Council of Europe is a diplomat talkshop for Eastern Europe, a cold war leftover, and its conventions are usually neither ratified nor implemented, simple declaration papers. Not to mention that the whole issue of cybercrime was off-topic in that forum.

He also advised governments against mandating just one electronic document standard as it may run foul of World Trade Organization policies and open themselves to possible legal challenges. "One of the big concerns of WTO is that you should not use standards as a barrier to trade," he said.

"If a government enforces [use of just one standard], that would mean the whole country is not allowed to use OpenXML. Then, they could get into a very difficult legal situation as they can be challenged legally," opinioned van den Beld.

Beware governments, you can be sued for not using OOXML.