Although Julie Matlin liked the shoes she saw on Zappos.com, she ultimately left the site without purchasing them. However, it was not the last time she would see that pair of shoes. For the next several days, the shoes followed Ms. Matlin to numerous other websites. "It was as if Zappos had unleashed a persistent salesmen who wouldn't take no for an answer." Understandably, Ms. Matlin found this "online stalking" disturbing, but she was more troubled when ads for her online dieting service started following her as well. She stated, "They are still following me around, and it makes me feel fat."
The European Union (EU) has been advocating climate policy ambitions from the very beginning of the international climate regime. Climate action to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement (2015) involves nearly all fields of national and international policy-making. In this research paper, we look into the role of trade policy in this respect. There are several legal and institutional options for how policy-makers in the EU and elsewhere could promote a productive relationship between the UN climate regime and the international trade regime, comprising the World Trade Organization (WTO) and regional trade agreements (RTAs). The increasing number of WTO disputes over national renewable energy policy regulations points to a systemic conflict between national climate policies and WTO obligations, whereas a number of RTAs including environmental standards demonstrate positive ways forward, in particular on how to avoid a race to the bottom. As a longer-term vision, we identify the legal options under the WTO regime, and for the medium term we suggest synergies that the EU can achieve through RTA negotiations and reviews. In the short term, the EU and its Member States should push for more transparency on trade-related climate measures, for example through notifications, between the bodies of the WTO and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as follow up with climate policy allies on trade initiatives that support the climate agenda.
In: Rivera , S , Knight , A & McCulloch , S 2021 , ' Surviving the wildlife trade in Southeast Asia: reforming the 'disposal' of confiscated live animals under CITES ' , Animals , vol. 11 , no. 2 , 439 , pp. 1-20 . https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020439
Increased focus on the illegal global wildlife trade has resulted in greater numbers of live animals confiscated by authorities, increasing the need to manage these animals responsibly. Most wildlife seizures take place in Southeast Asia, with global demand for live animals fuelling much of the trafficking. Guidelines for the 'disposal' of live specimens are provided by the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), although individual Parties must implement provisions through national laws and regulations. 'Disposal' is the term used for the management of illegally traded wildlife upon confiscation. Confiscated live animals can be euthanised (i.e., killed), repatriated to their native country and released, or kept in captivity. This study investigates barriers to proper care and disposal of confiscated live animals in Southeast Asia, where roughly one quarter of the global multibillion dollar illegal wildlife trade takes place. Interviews were conducted with 18 professionals working within conservation, wildlife crime, and confiscated live animal management. Eight limitations to the proper care and disposal of confiscated wildlife were identified: (1) political will, (2) policy, (3) funding, (4) capacity, (5) expertise (6) attitudes and behaviours, (7) exploitation, and (8) corruption. Based on interviews, we propose seven key reforms to support the efficient and humane management of illegally traded wildlife for national authorities and CITES parties. These are wildlife seizure management, legislative support, enhanced political will, demand reduction, global participation, registry of rescue centres, and terminology change. This research highlights major barriers to the proper care and disposal of live confiscated animals and proposes key reforms to improve the conservation of threatened species and the welfare of millions of illegally traded animals.
The study attempted to quantify the impact of sanitary and phytosanitary measures of top importing countries (Netherlands, US, China and Italy) on Philippine coconut oil exports for the period 1986-2009. To attain the objectives of the study, descriptive analysis and a gravity model were used to analyse the secondary data gathered from FAOSTAT, World Bank, DA-BAS, BAFPS, DTI-BPS, PCA and other sources. In general, fluctuations on the trend of Philippine coconut oil exports (volume and value) due to different factors and interventions were observed. The comparison made between Philippine National Standard (PNS) and Codex/APCC Standards illustrated that in general, the local standard is at par with international standards. Results of the regression analysis using the gravity model showed that SPS standard in the form of maximum allowable Aflatoxin- B1 levels was significant and does not limit the trade flow of coconut oil exports to the countries included in the study. The country was able to comply not only with international standards but also with stringent SPS measures, standards, and regulations of importing countries. This has been possible through the help or use of (1) new and improved technologies such as kukum dryers, salt fertilization, and intercropping (CBFS) practices; (2) government regulations (e.g. PCA A.O. 02 s2003, action team on pest infestation, and planting & re-planting program); and (3) continuous research and development (R&D) programs. The study also revealed the possibility of an additional gain from trade for the Philippines amounting to an estimated average of 188.5% or more than 100 million US $ attributed to the beneficial impact of the country's compliance with international standards and stringent SPS measures of importing countries. The study concluded that this increase in gains from coconut oil exports can only be hindered by protectionist devices and/or trade limiting actions of importing countries. While the results are quite affirmative, further studies and actions are needed to reduce trade losses due to non-tariff barriers like SPS measures and/or maximize the gains that the country could get from trade liberalization. There are still problems regarding production, marketing, and SPS implementation, particular to the coconut industry and to the country as a whole, which needs to be resolved the soonest possible in order to increase the competitiveness of Philippine coconut products and by-products in the international market.
This paper first compares alternative regulation and fiscal-financial incentive based policy instruments for pollution control in terms of different choice criteria. Since no single instrument can be shown to dominate all others in either theory or actual experience, the paper goes on to spell out an experimental menu of alternative incentive structures for supporting predetermined standards. The practical implications of the proposed alternative systems of charges, taxes, and tradeable permits in terms of their financial burdens on product prices are then illustrated for waste water treatment using abatement cost functions estimated for the pulp and paper industry in India.
This paper first compares alternative regulation and fiscal-financial incentive based policy instruments for pollution control in terms of different choice criteria. Since no single instrument can be shown to dominate all others in either theory or actual experience, the paper goes on to spell out an experimental menu of alternative incentive structures for supporting predetermined standards. The practical implications of the proposed alternative systems of charges, taxes, and tradeable permits in terms of their financial burdens on product prices are then illustrated for waste water treatment using abatement cost functions estimated for the pulp and paper industry in India.
"The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (CDCE) was adopted in 2005 and designed to allow States to protect and promote cultural policies. This book examines the effectiveness of the CDCE and offers ways by which its implementation may be improved to better attain its objectives. The book provides insight in how the normative character of the CDCE may be strengthened through implementation and increasingly recurrent practice based on its provisions. Hailing from various fields of international law, political and social sciences, the book's contributors work to promote discussions on the practical and legal influence of the CDCE, and to identify opportunities and recommendations for a more effective application. Part One of the book assesses the effectiveness of the CDCE in influencing other areas of international law and the work conducted by other intergovernmental organizations through the recognition of the double nature (cultural and economic) of cultural goods and services. Part Two focuses on the practice of the CDCE beyond the recognition of the specificity of cultural goods and services in international law by addressing the CDCE's call for greater international cooperation and stronger integration of cultural concerns in development strategies at the national and regional levels. The book will be of great use and interest to academics and practitioners in law, social and political sciences, agents of governmental and international organizations, and cultural sector stakeholders"—
Annotation, This publication presents findings and two case studies from an April 2014 meeting on the roles of the OECD and the IMO in international international regulatory co-operation as well as a contribution from K. W. Abbott on the links between the two
"In Globalising Intellectual Property Rights, Matthews looks at various aspects of the TRIPs Agreement - agenda-setting, legal interpretation, implementation, enforcement and revision - from the viewpoint of both global business interests and developing countries. It is argued that the Agreement was largely the result of an initiative by multinational companies who sought to protect their own intellectual property rights through international law and, furthermore, that it is these multinational companies who are now its main guardians. The book concludes that the history of the TRIPs Agreement and the role of business is a clear example of governance by non-state actors on a global scale." "This book will be of interest to students and researchers in the fields of international relations, intellectual property law, international economic law and development studies."--Jacket