Abstract

An important way in which the European Union (EU) handles the environment-trade nexus is via Trade and Sustainable Development Chapters (TSDC) in its bilateral free trade agreements. TSDCs have been criticised for lacking enforcement mechanisms that enable sanctions in the form of a withdrawal of trade preferences. Recently, the EU has adopted a stronger focus on the monitoring and implementation of TSDCs. This article assesses the extent to which this ambition has been put into practice. To this end, it conducts a documentary analysis of reports and minutes of the TSDC Joint Committees for implementation, unpacking for the first time how environmental matters are approached in these. The analysis reveals these Committees mostly serve an informative function, although collaboration on environmental initiatives is also prevalent. In terms of holding the parties to account and policing the implementation of TSDCs, the EU undertakes this function more than its partners, and especially towards developing states. In addition, TSDC Committees are shown to be important fora for exchanges to reinforce EU unilateral environment-trade measures, weakening opposition to these.

Maria Garcia is a senior lecturer in the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies at the University of Bath. Her research interests focus on the politics of international trade, EU trade policy and social and environmental clauses in trade agreements. She is a member of the Department for Business and Trade's Domestic Advisory Group for the monitoring of social and environmental chapters in UK trade agreements, and was a special advisor to the House of Commons International Trade Committee supporting the scrutiny of the UK's first independent trade agreements.

Trade and Sustainable Development chapters in EU Free Trade Agreements