International Economic Law and Policy Blog

Sign in Subscribe

Topic

Trade and Environment

116 posts

Trade and Carbon Emissions: Consumption versus Production Models

How can we effectively fight carbon emissions, while at the same time limiting trade conflicts that result from such measures? Geoff Carmody explains that the answer is to focus on consumption rather than production: But an emissions production model only works if all nations sign on at the same time.

Trade Versus the Environment: More on Biofuels PPMs

Updating this old post, there has apparently now been a threat of a WTO complaint against proposed EU biofuel restrictions. Here are the restrictions: [The EU] intends to introduce new restrictions defining what type of land is suitable for creating biofuels. If the plans were to go ahead, fuels coming

Doha negotiation on Fisheries Subsidies

On 30 November 2007, Chairman of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules issued Draft Consolidated Chair Texts of the AD and SCM Agreements (TN/RL/W/213), which contained Annex VIII to the SCM Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Annex VIII provides a wide range of prohibited fisheries subsidies that contribute

Peter Mandelson on Carbon Taxes

From a speech by Peter Mandelson: The elephant in the room when we talk about trade incentives for the right climate policy is of course the idea of a carbon border tax. This is intended to punish free-riders who don't sign up to a global climate deal and

GSP and Climate Change

In the latest issue of the JIEL, Michael McKenzie discusses the interaction of climate change and the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). He notes two ways that preferences could help fight climate change: The first way that preferential tariff treatment under a GSP scheme could be tied to the issue

Taxing Big Engine Cars

I'm sure many of you remember the U.S. - Auto Taxes GATT dispute. There were several U.S. measures at issue, one of which was a "gas guzzler" tax. Car manufacturers were required to pay taxes on their automobiles based on the fuel efficiency, with

Carbon Labels

I love labeling as a solution to many trade-environment conflicts. I think it can be done in a way that is consistent with trade rules, and can also have a positive impact on environmental problems. So I was happy to read this piece in the Guardian: Japan is to carry

Domestic Tap Water Versus Imported Bottled Water

From AFP: A debate over water is boiling over in the United States and elsewhere amid growing environmental concerns about bottled water and questions about safety of tap water. While largely symbolic, the vote highlighted a growing movement opposing regular use of bottled water because of its plastic waste and

Obama on Ethanol Tariffs

Via Peter Gallagher, I saw this NY Times article on ethanol subsidies, which referred to an old Obama speech where he said the following: Greater Brazilian production of renewable fuels could boost sustainable economic development throughout Latin America, and reshape the geopolitics of energy in the hemisphere, reducing the oil-driven

The Economist on Carbon Tariffs

The Economist has an interesting "Economics focus" piece on the use of carbon tariffs against countries that do not take measures to limit their emissions. The piece describes the issue as follows: ... how can policy ensure that legal limits on emissions do not put local firms at a