Abstract
This article explores how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) could effectively be integrated into the trade and investment chapters of post-Lisbon comprehensive EU Free Trade Agreement (FTAs) and to which extent the various options could impose obligations on Multinational Enterprises (MNEs). It argues that promoting CSR in the trade aspects of a comprehensive FTA can, at most, indirectly impose obligations on MNEs due to the lack of vertical effect. Therefore, the likely evolution would be to include investor obligations that reflect CSR objectives in the investment chapters of comprehensive EU FTAs where there is vertical effect. By analysing the draft text of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) within the context of international developments as regards incorporating non-trade objectives in regional and bilateral FTAs and IIAs, this article aims to illustrate the Commission's approach towards introducing CSR in future comprehensive EU FTAs.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
