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Searching for the ‘Environment’ in India’s RTAs

Searching for the ‘Environment’ in India’s RTAs. Pramod Dev M CUTS Centre for International Trade Economics and Environment 19 June 2007, Tokyo. Environment in India’s Current & Future RTAs. Environment in India’s Current & Future RTAs…. Environment in India’s Current & Future RTAs.

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Searching for the ‘Environment’ in India’s RTAs

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  1. Searching for the ‘Environment’ in India’s RTAs Pramod Dev M CUTS Centre for International Trade Economics and Environment 19 June 2007, Tokyo

  2. Environment in India’s Current & Future RTAs

  3. Environment in India’s Current & Future RTAs…

  4. Environment in India’s Current & Future RTAs

  5. Why is the Environment Invisible in RTAs? • Historically, India’s policy on PTAs was influenced by political concerns; and with Developing countries. • Official view- environment is beyond the agenda of India’s negotiations on RTAs. • Consistency with India’s stand on non-tariff issues in the WTO, where clubbing of trade with environment, labour standards, and the like were resisted.

  6. Why is the Environment Invisible in RTAs? • Stakeholder perceptions in India also reinforce the idea that environment issues are used as an NTB by the developed countries. • India is playing it safe in RTA negotiations. Negotiations on tariff is acceptable, but not on contentious (unfamiliar) issues, unless there is pressure.

  7. Impact of Omission of environment from RTAs • Lost the chance to adopt the “building blocks” approach in non-tariff issues. • Gains on sustainable regional economic cooperation could not be achieved, especially in contiguous countries.

  8. Domestic Consultation on RTAs • Public consultations are limited in scope; if at all the practice exist. NGO involvement only if commissioned by the Government for research and support. • Public debate & coverage in popular press is poor. Impact: Limited scope for assimilation of sustainability issues and environmental norms in RTA negotiations. Was it designed by the Government?

  9. Why lack of Public Debate on RTAs in India? • In India, WTO negotiations attract more attention from civil society and interest groups. • Issues related to RTAs are seldom widely understood and hardly any input or demand from civil society, including those working on environment. Impact: 1) Absence of domestic demand for Environmental norms. 2) RTAs/PTAs have WTO+ concessions and provisions.

  10. Environment in India’s Future RTAs • Based on Joint Study Group reports, environment could feature prominently in future agreements with Developed countries. It will be the real test for Indian trade negotiators. • Going by the language and nature of activities proposed, the integration of the ‘environment’ will be limited to areas that are less contentious and mutually beneficial, like CDM investments. How far these steps could assuage the concerns on NTBs is not sure.

  11. Post-Script • Need to enhance local capacities in understanding ‘RTAs and Environment’, by encouraging public debate. • Multilateral Vs Regional or Multilateral with Regional? - Thank You -

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