ABSTRACT
NAFTA and GATT have spawned fierce political debates between promoters and critics of global free trade. One of the most intense debates surrounding these agreements focuses on the impact of NAFTA and GATT trade rules on environmental protection. Many environmentalists have argued that free trade rules, and the international organizations that implement these rules, could undermine U.S. policies that protect the environment and promote conservation. The current row over the impact of shrimp fishing on sea turtles indicates that environmentalists’ concerns may be justified.
