Trade and Environmental Issues in International Business

Trade and Environmental Issues in International Business

There have been a lot of debates on trade and environment in international trade over the past decade. One of the key issues in the debate over how best to reconcile the two objectives of environmental protection and trade liberalization revolves around the inter-relationship between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and the multilateral trading system But, the relationship between international environmental rules and the international trading system has not been clarified yet. This paper analyzes the main contents of trade and environmental issues under MEAs and the WTO rules. It begins with the fundamental question as to whether the relationship is primarily characterized by mutual recognition and supportiveness or by conflict followed by the identification of proposals made either to enhance synergies between both sets of international rules or to avoid conflict between them. This paper examines the relevant literature and international rules governing environment and trade. Additionally, state proposals for reform will be taken into consideration.