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Can trade liberalization and environmental protection be pursued together, or do the two objectives inevitably conflict? The rapid evolution of international regimes and institutions is increasingly bringing such conflicts to the fore. A consensus, both on the extent of the clash, and on how it can be resolved, does not yet exist. This volume includes the proceedings from the RIIA's April 1997 conference on trade and the environment, which brought together prominent contributors from all sides of the debate, including industry, governments, academics, NG0s and intergovernmental institutions such as the World Trade Organization, UNEP, UNCTAD and the OECD. They examine the background to the issue; the impacts of trade-related environmental measures; the relationship between environmental policy, competitiveness and investment; industry and developing country concerns; and the evolution of dispute settlement procedures in the EU and the WTO. The concluding chapter features a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the debate and of the WTO's Committee on Trade and Environment.
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Trade and Environment: Conflict or Compatibility? During the financial year 1997/98 the Energy and Environmental Programme is supported by generous contributions of finance and technical advice from the following organizations: Amerada Hess · Ashland Oil · British Gas British Nuclear Fuels · British Petroleum · Department of Trade and Industry, UK · Eastern Electricity · Enron · Elf ENI · Enterprise Oil · Esso/Exxon · LASMO · Magnox Electric Mitsubishi Fuels · National Grid · Nuclear Electric Powergen · Ruhrgas · Saudi Aramco · Shell · Statoil TEPCO · Texaco · Veba Oel Sponsorship fo r the conference ‘Trade and Environment: Conflict or Compatibility?’ was received from: UK Department of the Environment · DGI, European Commission Royal Society for the Protection of Birds · Vauxhall Motors Trade and Environment: Conflict or Compatibility? Proceedings o f the Royal Institute of International Affairs conference Chatham House, London, April 1997 Edited by Duncan Brack THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF £1 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BH Energy and Environmental Programme International Economics Programme First published by Earthscan in the UK and USA in 1998 For a full list of publications please contact: Earthscan 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon 0X14 4RN Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Earthscan 711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Earthscan is an imprint o f the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © Royal Institute of International Affairs, 1998 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Paperback: ISBN 978-1-85383-577-3 (pbk) The Royal Institute of International Affairs is an independent body which promotes the rigorous study of international questions and does not express opinions of its own. The opinions expressed in this publication are the responsibility of the authors. Typeset by Koinonia Ltd. Original cover design by Visible Edge Cover by Yvonne Booth Contents Preface and acknowledgments............................................................. . vii Contributors to the conference............................................................. . xi Abbreviations....................................................................................... xiii 1 Introduction: the trade and environment debate 1.1 Guide to the issues (Duncan B rack)........................................ .. 1 1.2 Trade and envi