ABSTRACT
The purpose of the analysis in this chapter is to understand how the presence of green and producer lobbies can affect the political determination of trade and environmental policies.
Recent events in the United States have illustrated the extent to which citizen groups condition trade and environmental policies, both at the national and multilateral level. On the trade side, the creation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) initially encountered the resistance of business, labour and environmental groups (VanGrasstek, 1992). By pledging in an environmental side agreement,1 the White House was able to win the support of at least some environmental groups and obtain the fast track authority to negotiate the trade agreement without a line-by-line veto from Congress.2 More recently, environmental groups have joined forces with protectionist industries and labour groups to launch a fierce campaign against further trade liberalisation, which has caused the breakdown of the new round of WTO negotiations in Seattle.3 Industry and green lobbies have been extremely influential also on the environmental side. On some issues, such as multilateral emissions cuts, they have held different positions. For example, the strength of the producer lobby has caused the USA to abandon the Kyoto Protocol, after the assumption of office by President Bush. On others, such as the compliance of foreign legislation with American environmental standards, their objectives have often coincided.
