International Trade and the Environment: The impact of WTO on Developing Countries and Environmenal protection Ghana

Emmanuel Opoku Awuku
Pages: 300 pages
Shipping Weight: 600 gram
Published: 07-2006
Publisher: WLP
Language: US
ISBN (softcover) : 9789058502216

Product Description

This book examines the relationship between trade and environment, particularly the apparent conflict between trade liberalization and environmental protection. Special attention is given to the situation of developing countries, which depend heavily on the exploitation of their natural resources for economic growth resulting in many cases in serious environmental degradation. On the other hand, environment-related trade measures imposed by developed countries restrict market access for exports by developing countries. 

This book looks at the following questions in details:
1. What interaction exists between trade policies and environmental measures?
2. To what extend does the WTO environmental regime address trade-related environmental issues?
3. What problems do developing countries face in view of new environmental related trade measures? 4. What solutions does the partnership Agreement between the EU and the ACP states – a new model for trans-regional trade agreements – offer with regard to environment-related trade problems?

In order to examine the kind of problems that developing countries face in greater detail, the case study focuses on the forest sector and timber industry in Ghana. The following issues are giving special attention:
1. What are the causes of environmental degradation, in particular deforestation in Ghana?
2. How does Ghana respond to the need of protecting the environment while promoting exports for economic growth?
3. In what ways does Ghana respond to environment-related trade measures arising from higher environmental standards in developed countries?
4. To what extend does the new forest legislation in Ghana correspond to the principles of sustainable forest management?
5. What role do forest institutions, traditional local communities and other stakeholders play in terms of implementing sustainable forest management practices?

The book is recommended to international lawyers working on law and development issues; NGOs; those working for international institutions such as the World Bank Group; international economic law students; an those pursing trade law and development studies.