Trade and Sustainable Development Area
Assessment of the Sustainability
of Trade Agreements

Environmental Impact Assessment
and institutional strengthening in the FTAA
Together with a series of institutions from different countries in the continent, FARN participated in the project Environmental Assessment and Capacity Building for the FTAA Agreement. With the support of the OAS, FARN made two public presentations of the study entitled Environmental Sustainability in Trade: Assessment of the Potential Impacts of the FTAA in Argentina. The paper contains an economic analysis of the possible modifications in Argentina's trade flows under different scenarios of continental trade integration, an assessment of potential environmental impacts derived from those scenarios, and an analysis of the institutional strengths and weaknesses of the country in facing the challenges and opportunities posed by trade liberalisation in the continent in relation to environmental protection and sustainable development.

The presentations took place in the City of Buenos Aires (October 2003) and in Miami (November 2003) at the Forum of the Americas on Trade and Sustainable Development, a public forum on the FTAA held during the 1st Ministerial Conference in Miami.

• Environmental Sustainability on Trade: Assessment of the Potential Impacts of FTAA - The Argentine case. By J.R. Walsh, E. Ortiz and C. Galperín.

An approximation to the socio-environmental
aspects of the EU-MERCOSUR Agreement
With the support of the WWF, FARN together with other non-governmental organizations in the MERCOSUR prepared two reports on the Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) of the Commercial Aspects of the EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement which is being developed by the European Union. These reports analyze and formulate a series of observations and recommendations on the methodological approach to assessment, to the process and channels of information, and to the public consultation provided for in the SIA. These reports were presented to the European Union authorities responsible for the assessment.

With a view to promoting intersectorial analysis and dialogue on the opportunities and challenges posed by this future association agreement for sustainable development and environmental quality in Argentina, and together with the Argentine Council for International Relations (CARI) and the Argentine Wildlife Foundation, with the sponsorship of the WWF, in June 2003 FARN organized a workshop entitled Trade Negotiations between the MERCOSUR and the European Union: an approximation to the socio-environmental aspects.

• Comments on the Proposed Methodology: "EC Sustainability Impact Assessment of the Trade Aspects of the EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement - Draft Inception Report"
  CLAES, FARN, IDEA and WWF.
  
  
• Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) of the Commercial Aspects of the EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement. Comments and Recommendations on the Public Information and Consultation Process. Reports from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
  CLAES, ECOS, FARN, GETULIO VARGAS, IDEA and WWF.
  
  
• Conclusions of the Workshop "Trade Negotiations between the MERCOSUR and the European Union: an approximation to the socio-environmental aspects"  [in PDF - 140 KB - 3 pgs.]

Participation at events on the theme

• Regional Consultation on Trade and Environment. Experts Meeting in Chile. International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Resources and Research for Sustainable Development (RIDES), and International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Santa Cruz - Chile, October 10-11, 2003.
  
  
• Seminar "Assessment of Sustainability of Trade Policies". Resources and Research for Sustainable Development (RIDES). Santiago de Chile, November 11-12, 2003.