This event is cosponsored by ABA SEER's International Environmental and Resources Law Committee, the DC Bar's Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section, and ELI.
Although the merits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) have been hotly discussed in the Presidential campaign, the political rhetoric has largely ignored the more specific and longstanding debate over the impact this agreement and free trade agreements, generally, have on the environment and whether and how they can be a positive force for environmental protection. There has been an evolution in environmental provisions in trade agreements—from the early 1990s with the development of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to the present. But can such agreements really ensure stronger protections domestically and globally? Our panel will examine the current environmental provisions contained in the TPP as well as those in other trade agreements and give their perspectives on several issues from varying viewpoints. Topics to be addressed will include how environmental provisions actually work in these agreements; whether there are any significant impacts on environment, health and safety, and regulatory authority that still need to be addressed; to what extent investor-state dispute settlement provisions help or hinder the environmental protection goals in these agreements; and prospects for TPP post-election. Our panelists included members of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC), which was set up by the White House over 20 years ago to provide policy advice on these very types of issues.
Panelists:
Jerry Block, Chair, U.S. Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (moderator)
Leslie Delagran, Senior Fellow, U.S. Government Relations, World Wildlife Fund
Jeffrey J. Schott, Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics
Cindy L. Squires, Esq., Executive Director, International Wood Products Association