Ebook: Globalization and the Environment: Risk Assessment and the Wto

The WTO has laid the foundations for a new era of trade relations, and increased trade liberalization has improved global efficiency in production and consumption. The strengthening of trade rules, however, has increased the scope for disputes over interpretations of more extensive and complicated agreements, and has spilt over into environmental and scientific matters. One of the unforseen consequences of the WTO agreements has been controversy over risk. This study explores aspects of risk with special reference to the WTO, where national instruments to reduce risk may conflict with international trade rules.