We live in a world that is increasingly dependent on international trade in a context of substantial regional/national political tensions. Adding to this is an emerging understanding and concern about the social impact of biosecurity and ecosystem services risks associated with such trade. As the key international trade 'arbiter', the World Trade Organization (WTO) has never before faced such complexity within its decision-making remit.

With increasing numbers of bilateral and regional agreements, as well as new developments emerging such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) initiated by multi-national corporations in 2018, the WTO needs to implement ways of reinforcing its legitimacy and enhancing its relevance.

This book provides an original analysis of these linked developments and delivers a timely contribution to resolving environment-related international trade disputes. It provides a clear roadmap for improving WTO trade dispute resolution procedures so both biosecurity and ecosystem services risks are considered in evaluating the social, economic and environmental impacts of international trade proposals. In so doing, the WTO should deliver enhanced multilateral social welfare.

Contents: ForewordAbout the AuthorsIntroductionHistory and Analysis of the WTO in the Context of Trade Disputes:Brief History of the WTO and Its Environment-Related Trade Dispute Resolution ProceduresWTO Trade Dispute Resolution Procedures in the Context of Biosecurity Risks — Details and Critical Analysis of Applications to Global Trade DisputesWTO Dispute Resolution Procedures in the Context of Ecosystem Services Risks — Details and Critical Analysis of Applications to Global Trade DisputesEvaluating International Trade Proposals in the Context of Biosecurity Risks:Evaluating International Trade Proposals in the Context of Biosecurity Risks: MethodologyEvaluating International Trade Proposals in the Context of Biosecurity Risks: Case StudiesEvaluating International Trade Proposals in the Context of Ecosystem Services Risks:Evaluating International Trade Proposals in the Context of Ecosystem Services Risks: MethodologyEvaluating International Trade Proposals in the Context of Ecosystem Services Risks: Case StudiesA Way Forward:Dealing with Complexity: Non-Monetised Impacts and Distributional ConsiderationsConclusion
Readership: Postgraduates and researchers in government policy relating to international trade, biosecurity and ecosystem services — with either ecological or economic disciplinary backgrounds. World Trade Organisation;International Trade Disputes;Biosecurity;Ecosystem Services0Key Features:The research relating to evaluating biosecurity and other ecosystem service impacts of international trade proposals has been confined to (recent) journal articles, reflecting the relative newness of these areas as research topicsThere has been more social commentary on the consistency and fairness of the WTO, but this has yielded few solutions to current problems. While our research is critical of the rules and processes governing international trade, particularly in relation to the environment, we also present policy solutions. In doing so, we hope to generate discussion around a possible way forward, rather than simply focusing on the problems of the past and present

Robert Fraser