Place of ‘Development’ in Sustainable Development in Trade Agreements”, in K. Claussen, G. Vidigal (eds.) ‘The Sustainability Revolution in international Trade Agreements

Trade and sustainable development (TSD) chapters of trade agreements seek to implement a range of non-economic values and goals through specific commitments. While the non-economic values merit consideration, enforcement of such values through binding commitments in a trade agreement is contentious and too sensitive for several developing countries. In particular, including such elements in trade agreements has implications especially for achieving the goal of ‘development’ in view of the significant economic and social costs involved. This chapter seeks to examine whether the TSD chapters have the purpose or effect of undermining the notion of ‘economic development’ within the broader context of sustainable development and how it is possible to reconcile the various elements of this concept within the universal notion of sustainable development.

Link: https://academic.oup.com/book/57559/chapter/468957261?login=true