Document Type
Paper
Publication Date
2-2025
Abstract
Trade policies motivated by security or commercial interests are increasingly complemented by trade measures that seek to induce foreign producers to green their production processes. A prominent example is the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Such unilateral measures are unlikely to be efficient, and at the limit may simply be ineffective. In this paper we use the EUDR experience to make the case for countries seeking to use trade policies to negotiate jointly defined approaches to achieve nontrade goals. We consider the scope for doing so in the framework of trade agreements and through stand-alone, issue-specific open plurilateral agreements (OPAs). We argue OPAs are likely to offer a superior basis for cooperation. Whether countries decide to leverage trade or development institutions multilateral institutions have an important role to play in facilitating negotiation of environmental policies that support local communities while encouraging trade, and in assisting states to implement the resulting agreements.
Disciplines
Environmental Law | International Trade Law | Law
Recommended Citation
Charles F. Sabel & Bernard M. Hoekman,
Managing the Trade-Climate Policy Interface Through Open Plurilateral Agreements: Learning from the EU Deforestation Regulation Experience,
(2025).
Available at:
https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/faculty_scholarship/4614