Integrating Sustainable Development into Bilateral Trade Agreements

It is now well established that trade and environmental policy are complementary in achieving sustainable development. Chapter 2 of Agenda 21 emphasises the need to promote sustainable economic ‘development through trade’. It states that this must be done through ‘a commitment to sound economic policies and management, an effective and predictable public administration, the integration of environmental concerns into decision-making and progress towards democratic government’ (UNESD, 1992, ch. 2, para 2.6). The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation 2002 of the World Summit on Sustainable Development has subsequently reinforced this call. The Preamble to the WTO Agreement commits to multilateral trade liberalisation in the pursuit of sustainable development and purports to protect and preserve the environment. Despite the recognition of this linkage, the current multilateral trading system is littered with the arbitrary and discriminatory use of environmental requirements for trade restrictive purposes as well as environmentally unsustainable free trade. Furthermore, the trade-environment nexus needs to be upheld in all free trade arrangements – whether those arrangements are bilateral, regional, or multilateral. While, this nexus has been enshrined in some multilateral treaties, currently, incorporation of the trade-environment nexus has not been considered at the bilateral level. This paper will examine the prospects and challenges of bilateral economic integration and sustainable development pursuant to GATT Article 24. The paper will argue that integration of sustainable development into bilateral trade arrangements will create new avenues for regional and global trade liberalization and maximise trade-induced sustainable development. The focus of this Paper is on how sustainable development principles can be enshrined in bilateral trade agreements between Australia and India with special reference to the primary sector, specifically agricultural products and natural resources. Both Australia and India are committed to economic development as well as environmental protection yet both countries treat the environment as a non-trade issue. Against this context, the paper will examine (i) the extent to which Australian bilateral trade treaties with India can integrate sustainable development;(ii) explore economic and other implications of focusing on sustainable development in trade treaties; and (iii)illustrate how bilateral preferential trade agreements can serve as stepping-stones for global trade liberalization

The United Nation\u27s Approach To Trade, The Environment And Sustainable Development

The complex and transboundary nature of current environmental problems has turned them into global issues that intricately link ecology, economics and politics

The United Nation\u27s Approach To Trade, The Environment And Sustainable Development

The complex and transboundary nature of current environmental problems has turned them into global issues that intricately link ecology, economics and politics

El Enfoque De Las Naciones Unidas Sobre El Comercio, El Medio Ambiente Y Desarrollo Sosteniblent

La complejidad de los problemas actuales medioambientales han crecido tanto que han traspasado fronteras y se han convertido en una mezcla intricada de ecologia, economia y politica

Comparative study of root resorption between two methods for accelerated orthodontic tooth movement.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess apical root resorption (RR) following the application of micro-osteoperforation (MOP) and piezocision (PzC) assisted orthodontics for the acceleration of tooth movement (TM). Materials and Methods: A total number of 16 patients seeking orthodontic therapy were included in this study. All patients had undergone 1st premolars extraction and were indicated for canine retraction. These patients were divided into two groups; one was treated using MOP in one side while the other side served as control. In the other group PzC was performed in one side with no intervention done on the other side. Cone-beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans were obtained for every patient before and after canine retraction in order to evaluate amount of RR. Results: In the MOP group, there was no significant difference in canine root length between experimental and control sides. Whereas, in the PzC group, there was a statistically significant decrease in root length in the experimental side compared with the control side. When comparing both groups, the experimental PzC side showed a statistically significant decrease in root length compared to experimental MOP side postoperatively. Conclusion: Experimental PzC showed statistically significant decreases in canine root length compared to both experimental MOP and control side after canine retraction

Environmental implications of increased US oil production and liberal growth agenda in post-Paris Agreement era

Contextualising on the internationally low oil prices era and historically high oil production in USA and refusal to honour the commitments under Paris Agreement (COP: 21), this study investigates the role of education, oil prices and natural resources on energy demand and CO2 emissions in the USA for the period of 1976–2016. In so doing, we employed a bounds testing approach to cointegration accounting for structural breaks in the series. Key findings suggest the presence of a long-run association between underlying variables. The abundance of natural resources and economic growth of the US economy seem to weigh on environmental quality by increasing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Oil prices show a negative association with energy consumption as well as carbon emissions suggesting that a low oil prices regime can lead to an increase in carbon emissions and energy consumption. Interestingly, education seems to play an important role by reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, resultantly improving the US environmental quality. Our findings have profound environmental implications in terms of efforts to tackle climate change and meeting the Paris agreement (COP: 21) ambitions with reality and USA policy stance

Shifting global power and trade in education services

22 page(s

Sustainable development and free trade : institutional approaches

Examining institutions rather than themes, this critical book provides a comprehensive survey of the inter-relationship between trade-induced economic growth and the environment and its impact on the global quest for sustainable development. Focusing in particular on the interests and concerns of developing countries and the skewing of international environmental policies into justifications for trade protectionism Shawkat Alam argues that environmental protection issues are inextricably linked with the economic development of developing countries whilst offering arguments for reforming the current international trade and environmental paradigms. Covering contemporary developments on both a global and regional level in a systematic fashion and examining the United Nation s approach to sustainable development, this book is of interest to those studying in a range of disciplines, including development studies, environmental economics, the politics of international trade and environmental politics.Table of cases -- Table of international instruments -- 1. Establishing the Linkage: The Trade-Environment Interface -- 2. The United Nations' Approach to Trade, the Environment and Sustainable Development -- 3. GATT/WTO Approaches to Trade, the Environment and Sustainable Development -- 4. The Trade-Environment Linkage in the Post-Uruguay Round Context -- 5. Regional Approches to Free Trade and Sustainable Development: The European Union -- 6. Regional Approaches to Free Trade and Sustainable Development: The North American Free Trade Agreement -- 7. Regional Approaches to Free Trade and Sustainable Development: The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation -- 8. Trade Restrictions Pursuant to Multilateral Environmental Agreements -- 9. Free Trade and Sustainable Development: Challenges Ahead

Trade-environment nexus in GATT jurisprudence : pressing issues for developing countries

26 page(s

Trade, the environment, and the World Trade Organization : a developing country perspective on WTO agreements concerning standards, regulations, and non-tariff barriers to trade

26 page(s