Asia fears 'green protectionism'<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE (Reuter): Asian nations fear their trade could
\nsuffer because of proposed Western environmental pacts, two Asian
\nspeakers told a conference yesterday.<\/p>\n
Ponciano Intal, president of the Philippine Institute for
\nDevelopment Studies, said environmental agreements would meet
\nstrong opposition among developing Asian countries which fear the
\npacts could lead to "green protectionism."<\/p>\n
The opposition "stems primarily from their fear (these
\nrules) ... could lead to the use of 'green protectionism' as well
\nas to unwanted linkages such as the linkage of trade and labor
\nstandards," Intal said.<\/p>\n
He was speaking at the Asia Conference on Trade and the
\nEnvironment in Singapore.<\/p>\n
Western countries want an amendment to World Trade
\nOrganization (WTO) rules to allow trading restrictions if a
\ncountry violated a multilateral environmental agreement.<\/p>\n
The restrictions would also apply if a country failed to meet
\nproduct standards designed to combat the spread of toxic
\nsubstances.<\/p>\n
Martin Khor, director of the Third World Network in Malaysia,
\ntold the conference the definition by the European Union of an
\nenvironmental agreement would allow a few countries to "take
\nrestrictive measures in their trade interests."<\/p>\n
"The main concern is that developing countries will lose out
\nin trade terms and be made victims of environmental agreements or
\nmeasures" to which they are not even parties, he said.<\/p>\n
Yale University law professor Daniel Esty said there is a
\n"very real risk" that no progress will be made on the issues
\nunless a compromise is reached before the WTO trade ministerial
\nconference in December in Singapore.<\/p>\n
"We'd certainly favor a balanced approach...than no solution
\nat all," Elizabeth Dowdeswell, executive director of the United
\nNations Environment Program (UNEP), told reporters.<\/p>\n
But she added, "The notion that environmental protection is
\nequivalent to environmental protectionism does not hold currency
\nanymore."<\/p>\n
Disputes on environmental protection and labor standards have
\nbecome a new irritant between the West and the booming economies
\nof southeast Asia.<\/p>\n
The United States has criticized Indonesia's labor standards
\nwhile some European nations take issue with the felling of
\ntropical rainforests in Malaysia and Indonesia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-fears-green-protectionism-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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