NAFTA and Environment: Effectiveness of NAFTA’s Side Agreement and Contextual

Environmental Provisions

IPOL 8507 Victoria Powell

Outline of PresentationProblemBackground of NAFTADescription of Environmental

ProvisionsCase: Mexico’s

Environment AssessmentRecommendationFinal WordsQuestions?

ProblemFree Trade Agreements (FTA) can cause

pollution havens in areas with lower environmental standards.

NAFTA: Controversial AgreementSigned in 1992Will it cause a race to the

bottom?Will the environmental

provisions be effective?Addition of

Environmental Side AgreementNAAEC

Environmental ProvisionsPreamble: “undertake each of the preceding

(provisions) in a manner consistent with environmental protection and conservation,” and “strengthen the development and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations.”

Article 1114 Environment and InvestmentNAAEC/CEC

CECAddress regional environmental concernsHelp prevent potential trade and

environmental conflictsPromote the effective enforcement of

environmental lawCouncil: oversees and serves as a forumJPAC: advisesSecretariat: support

Case: Mexico’s Environment (1985-99)89% Increase in Rural Soil Erosion 108% Increase in Municipal Solid Waste 29% Increase in Water Pollution by and 97% Increase in Urban Air Pollution Financial Cost 10% of GDP ($36 billion

annually)Economic Growth $14 billion annually

AssessmentNAAEC

$9 million annuallyNABCI and othersArticles 14 and 15Lack of power

NAFTA Chapter 11“tantamount to

expropriation”

RecommendationRe-write NAFTA

Modify Chapter 11Add provisions for NAAEC

in the textNext Steps

Continue to become reputable source of information

Improve citizen submission

Final Words Not all environmental problems were caused

by NAFTANAAEC not devised to address all problems

Questions???

Picture References Slide 2: http://amhist.ist.unomaha.edu/module_files/nafta.gif Slide 3: http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2008/0812/nafta_1229.jpg Slide 5:

http://www.bendib.com/newones/2008/march/small/3-17-NAFTA-ears.jpg Slide 6:

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/032808/how-to-repair-nafta.gif Slide 7: http://amhist.ist.unomaha.edu/module_files/nafta.gif Slide 8:

http://www.nadir.org/nadir/initiativ/agp/free/nafta/nafta-pyramide.gif

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