Social Issues in Regional Trade Agreements: Labour, Environment and Human Rights

Abstract

This chapter reviews the several ways that bilateral and regional trade agreements regulate environmental and labour standards and human rights. It divides these into provisions granting the parties rights to adopt protective measures in the form of exceptions and conflicts provisions and provisions imposing on the parties obligations to take positive steps to implement certain norms. The chapter also reviews the extent to which these obligations can be enforced, if at all.

Keywords: Free trade agreements, FTAs, environmental standards, labour standards, human rights

JEL Classification: K33