International Trade, Development and the Environment :

During the last four decades, and as a main component of globalization, a generalized liberalization and open market process has taken place in most countries worldwide. Many see liberalization as an essential part of (sustainable) development. Many countries, mainly Asia and Latin America, have gradually begun to emerge from poverty and under development, as a result, among other things, of international trade. However, paradoxically, the openness of international trade has increased the pressure on natural resources and capacities of many countries to address its consequences, including pollution,
The purpose of this series of briefs is to facilitate understanding by negotiators and different actors involved in trade and environment negotiations, about the present history and situation of ongoing negotiation processes. They furthermore seek to present in a simple manner the implications of these negotiations in the context of an increasingly complex institutional and normative architecture on trade and the environment, and the links between them. land degradation, loss of biodiversity, increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases, and negative impacts on natural resources in general.