Trade globalization and environment

Abstract

Even though the international trade system has evolved without consideration of environmental protection frameworks, efforts are being made to join environmental and political aims. International Institutions such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are committed to this task, as also are signatories of both North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and international environmental conventions adopted during the past ten years, The relationship between international trade and environment will become compulsory in Latin America's export policies during this decade. These developing countries base their development on increase of exports and will have to adopt environmental standards of well developed countries. In the context of their insertion in international markets, environmental topics have been ignored. This explains the lack of studies on the relationship between globalization and environment, the passive attitude towards setting and compiling international standards, and the absence of clear environmental policy profiles. The development of such profiles seems to be indispensable to keep Latin America within the process of global insertion, implying the consideration of legal and institutional realities, and also natural resources and environmental management. The search for consensus between trade and environment will predominate in the coming decade.