Assignment question: To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people, States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and promote appropriate demographic policies (Principle 8, The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development)- In light of the above principle, examine the role of process and production methods (PPM) to promote sustainable production and consumption for sustainable development.
Critically evaluate the GATT/WTO approaches toward process and production methods and its implications for promoting sustainable production and consumption in the context of sustainable development.
In your answer, please consider the relevant trade principles, rules and policies, interpretation of the rules and policies in case law in regards to PPM. "Students will be assessed on their understanding and explanation of the legal issues presented, the depth of their research as well as their critical evaluation of the relevant issues.
Research should extend beyond the prescribed books and course materials (the recommended books and journals provide a starting point for further research). Clarity of expression, presentation of argument, responsiveness to question, and correct and consistent reference style will also be taken into account." Clarity of expression, presentation of argument, responsiveness to question, and correct and consistent reference style will also be taken into account.
Instruments and tips
PPM's:
• Issue 1: A PPM can restrict trade or make it harder and costlier for an exporter to supply a foreign market.
• Issue 2: PPMs are a signal from importing countries to exporting countries about the environmental practices and laws that the importing country thinks the exporting country should have
PLEASE READ: Charnovitz, Steve, 2002. "The Law of Environmental "PPMs" in the WTO: Debunking the Myth of Illegality." Yale Journal of International Law, Vol. 27 (1): 59-110.
• Protectionist / "green tape" practices?
• Eco-imperialism - rich countries deciding what developing countries should do, and how they should do it.
• Attempting to coerce the developing country into placing a higher value on the environment than that country considers appropriate.
• Limiting the already limited capacity of developing nations
• Social and political priorities of developing nations
REQUIRED TEXT
The required text for this course is the IISD and UNEP, Environment and Trade: A Handbook - Second Edition.