The intrusion of environmental and labour standards into trade policy

Abstract

Demand for greater harmonization of domestic policies in the quest for 'fair' trade coupled with the greening of world politics and growing interest in international human rights is likely to pressure the WTO into performing tasks for which it is not designed. The WTO needs to consolidate its role in the world and ensuring implementation of the Uruguay Round before moving into issues that are only peripherally connected with trade. The most productive step that can be taken at this stage is for developing countries to consider with higher-standard countries the principles that ought to govern the design of trade policies and trade-related environmental and labor policies.