Sustainable Development in World Trade Law

This remarkable collection of papers, sponsored by the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL), demonstrates that sustainable development serves as a unifying concept with the potential to facilitate much-needed respect for international law and timely implementation of diverse and overlapping international commitments. It builds on the substance of a rich and complex debate at the intersections among economic, social, and environmental law, bringing together a broad cross-section of viewpoints and voices. The authors review recent developments in WTO discussions and negotiations, and in the recent decisions of the WTO Appellate Body, from a sustainable development law perspective. They also survey relevant new developments in trade and economic agreements at regional, inter-regional and bi-lateral levels. The various essays focus on sustainable development aspects of key issues in recent trade negotiations such as the "Singapore Issues" (investment, competition, trade facilitation, and government procurement), intellectual property rights, investment arbitration and the linkage between the WTO and multilateral environmental accords (MEAs). Among the specific topics covered are the following: emerging areas of law and policy in trade and sustainable development; the underlying development agendas in global trade law negotiations; cooperation and potential negotiation on international competition law; overlaps between multilateral environmental accords (MEAs) and the WTO; recent developments in WTO dispute settlement procedures and proceedings; human rights and environmental opportunities from trade liberalisation and increased market access; human rights and environment impact assessment techniques used to analyse trade agreements; and, recent developments in bi-lateral and regional trade agreements. Trade, investment, and competition law practitioners and negotiators in developed and developing countries will find this book of great value, as will development and environment law professionals with responsibility for trade and WTO law related matters.