Globalization and the Environment: Risk Assessment and the WTO

by David Robertson (Editor), Aynsley Kellow (Editor)

Overview

The WTO has laid the foundations for a new era of trade relations, and increased trade liberalization has improved global efficiency in production and consumption. The strengthening of trade rules, however, has increased the scope for disputes over interpretations of more extensive and complicated agreements, and has spilt over into environmental and scientific matters.

One of the unforeseen consequences of the WTO agreements has been controversy over risk. This volume explores aspects of risk with special reference to the WTO, where national instruments to reduce risk may conflict with international trade rules.

The book is divided into sections dealing with:

• accounting for risk in trade agreements
• risk and the WTO
• managing risk in policy making
• negotiating experience with risk
• national risks and quarantine standards
• managing biotechnology.

The chapters offer many perspectives on risk assessment and benefit from a rich diversity of approaches as befits contributions from authors with backgrounds in law, economics, political science and environmental and natural science as well as policy making.Globalization and the Environmentis a fascinating book that will draw its readership from these fields.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781840645385
Publisher:	Edward Elgar Publishing
Publication date:	04/23/2001
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Edited by the late David Robertson, formerly University of Melbourne and Aynsley Kellow, Professor Emeritus of Government, University of Tasmania, Australia

Table of Contents

Contents: Preface Part I: Risk and the WTO Part II: Managing Risk in Policy Making Part III: Negotiating Experience with Risk Part IV: National Risks and Quarantine Standards Part V: Managing Biotechnology Part VI: Concluding Summary Appendix Index

Editorial Reviews

'There are two good reasons to read Robertson and Kellow's book on the WTO. First, the book offers a unique opportunity to get an inside, to learn how the WTO itself conceives of its role in environmental matters and of the criticism put forward by the anti-globalization movement. Secondly, individual chapters in the book extensively deal with topics relevant to international environmental negotiations from a WTO perspective: the role of risk in multi-lateral environmental agreements, risk communication and biotechnology, and GM food and global trade.'

Hein-Anton van der Heijden

'As becomes clearer each day, the new global trade regime of the WTO is radically different in fundamental respects from its predecessor, the GATT. This book presents a most intriguing and innovative perspective on a cross-cutting issue of increasing importance: risk assessment. How will risk assessment and risk management affect the evolution of the multilateral rules-based system? Read this book and start thinking about it.'

Sylvia Ostry

'There are two good reasons to read Robertson and Kellow's book on the WTO. First, the book offers a unique opportunity to get an inside, to learn how the WTO itself conceives of its role in environmental matters and of the criticism put forward by the anti-globalization movement. Secondly, individual chapters in the book extensively deal with topics relevant to international environmental negotiations from a WTO perspective: the role of risk in multi-lateral environmental agreements, risk communication and biotechnology, and GM food and global trade.'

From the Publisher

Changing national regulations to meet international standards (as in the WTO) introduces non-economic risks (such as environmental damage) which need to be assessed and managed. Sixteen papers presented at the Melbourne Business School in February of 1999 discuss risk and the WTO, managing risk in policymaking, negotiating experience with risk, national risks and quarantine standards, and managing biotechnology. A sampling of topics includes applying SPS in WTO disputes, allowing for risk in setting standards, reducing chemical risks (OECD and lead), a business view of quarantine, and government regulations and genetically-modified organisms. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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