The topic presented regarding trade and environmental agreements followed in the world. Some of the points shared are outdated but the purpose was to give an idea about the relation between trade and environment.
4. Agreements
substantial reduction of tariffs and other trade barriers and the elimination of preferences,
on a reciprocal and mutually advantageous basis." GATT
aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not
threaten the survival of the species in the wild, and it accords varying degrees of protection
to more than 35,000 species of animals and plants. In order to ensure that the
General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) was not violated, the Secretariat of GATT was
consulted during the drafting process. CITES
IT is a legally binding agreement between three or more states relating to the environment.
They are predominantly produced by the United Nations. It is called a bilateral environmental
agreement if the agreement is between two nation states. MEA
international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of
numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. MONTREAL PROTOCOL
international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between
nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to
Less developed countries (LDCs). It does not, however, address the movement of radioactive
waste. BASEL PROTOCOL
a multilateral treaty created by the United Nations to enhance the cooperative management
of fisheries resources that span wide areas, and are of economic and environmental concern
to a number of nations. Straddling stocks are fish stocks that migrate through, or occur in,
more than one exclusive economic zone. CONVENTION ON STRADDLING
5. PROBLEM
What was the problem? What is environment and how
was it being affected?
AGREEMENT
TRADE ENVIRONMENT
How trade is related to the problem
and environment?
6. Environmentis the surrounding
in which organization operates including air and
water. Land and natural resources, flora and fauna,
humans and their interactions.
Tradeinvolves the transfer of the ownership
of good or services from one person or entity to
another in exchange for other goods or services or
for money.
Problemis the adverse impact
of trade on environment and in return
environments negative impacts on trade.
7. US Marine mammal act prohibited tuna fishing method that
killed large number of dolphins and banned tuna imports from the countries that used such
fishing methods.
Free trade rules has led to fiercely
contested disputes among countries. for example,
European nations have refused to allow imports of
US beef produced with hormone supplement.
GATTarticle xx states that, countries are allowed to
Restrict trade in order to “conserve exhaustible natural
resources” or to protect “human, plant or animal health
and life.”
8. US argued there is no proven harm to human health from the use of hormones, this is
an illegal barrier to trade. The Europeans however, cite the precautionary principle:
since they fear the possible effect of hormone.
Europeans reason
For trade restriction
Not valid under
Article XX of GATT.
As product itself has
No proven harm.
How it is prepared
Shouldn’t be the
Basis for trade
Restriction.
if pesticides residues
at dangerous levels
are detected on
fruit or vegetables,
import of those
products can be
banned. But if the
overuse of pesticides
is causing environmental
damage in the producing areas, the importing nation has no right to act.
Similar issue has arisen over the issue of genetically engineered crops.
while unlabelled genetically engineered foods are allowed in the US,
they are widely opposed in Europe.
Pollen from such crops can easily spread into the environment, disrupting fragile ecosystem
and possibly creating “superweeds” resistant to pesticides.
9. The Canadian asbestos industry sought to remove U.S restrictions
On the scale of cancer-causing asbestos products.
NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
has produced cases in which corporations have
challenged environmental regulations as barriers
to trade.
While US pesticide industry challenged strong Canadian pesticide regulation.
In one case, the US based Ethyl Corporation successfully overturned a Canadian ban
On the importation and sale of the gasoline additive MDMA, a chemical suspected
To cause never damage. Canada was required not only to eliminate the ban, but also
To pay $10 million compensation to Ethyl Corporation for legal costs and lost sale.
10. TRADE do not have just adverse impacts on environment!!
According to theory of
Comparative advantage
Trade causes countries
To become more efficient
In their use of resources,
There by conserving
Resources and avoiding
waste
Encourages the
Environmentally
Friendly techno-
-logy
Trade can replace old, inefficient
high polluting power plants with
new modern, highly efficient
combined cycle facility.