TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS

Abstract

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS preparing to assess the environmental impacts of trade agreements under a directive issued by former president Bill Clinton. In late 1999, Clinton issued the order on environmental review of trade agreements. The Bush Administration decided to retain the directive and is crafting plans to implement it, according to David A. Walters, chief economist for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). Walters spoke in late May at a meeting of the Environmental Protection Agency's Science Advisory Board (SAB). The proposed Free Trade of the Americas Agreement, which would link the markets of all Western Hemisphere countries except Cuba, will be the first major trade accord to be reviewed under the directive, Walters said. In addition to the hemispheric trade pact, the Bush Administration plans to review bilateral U.S. trade agreements with Singapore and Chile, he said. EPA will do much of the work of the ...