Environment and regional trade agreements.

"This work is published on the responsibility of the Secretary-General of the OECD"--Title page verso.

Also available online.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-230).

Introduction -- Environment in regional trade agreements -- Negotiating environmental commitments in regional trade agreements : some key questions -- Assessing the environmental impacts of regional trade agreements -- Environmental co-operation -- Environmental standards and enforcement of environmental laws -- Procedural guarantees, enforcement mechanisms, an dispute settlement -- Parties; right to adopt or maintain environmental regulation -- Public participation and consultation -- Conclusions and overview of key experience.

Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) have increased significantly in number over the past few years. The number of RTAs which include environmental provisions is also increasing. However, these provisions, and the experience related to their negotiation and implementation, have not been examined in depth yet. This study contributes to filling this gap. It provides an overview of approaches to environmental issues in RTAs and summarizes country experiences in their negotiation and practical application. Regional and bilateral trade arrangements are surveyed, including customs unions and free trade agreements. The study is based on the analysis of RTA texts, and on literature examining their actual implementation, as well as on first-hand comments and input from experts from both OECD and non-OECD countries.--Publisher's description.