|
||
|
TWN
Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Nov23/17) New briefing on trade and environment Trade measures may not represent the best available option to address global environmental problems and climate change issues. However, an attempt is being made, mainly by the developed countries, to position international trade as a solution for environmental problems. Based on some of the obligations on trade and environment as contained in some of the recent free trade agreements (FTAs) of the developed countries, it is apprehended that these countries would seek to pursue the following two broad objectives: first, provide a legal basis to the developed countries for taking environment-related measures for restricting imports mainly from developing countries; and second, curtailing the policy space presently available to developing countries to implement catch-up policies to nurture their domestic producers and service suppliers, particularly of environmental goods and services. Overall, it is apprehended that the narrative of trade being a solution for environmental problems would result in not only diminishing the export opportunities of developing countries in some of the existing sectors such as steel, cement, agriculture etc., but also making these countries overwhelmingly dependent on imports of green products and green technologies in their trajectory to a low-carbon-emission economy. These issues are explored in a new Briefing Paper published by the Third World Network, “Risks in trade as a solution for environmental problems” by Abhijit Das, available here. With best wishes, Third World Network
|
||
