Introduction

This book is about the link between trade and the environment which has been subject to enormous discussions and debates over the years and has become a very important national issue for all countries. In particular, this issue is important to the countries which have been undergoing lengthy periods of trade and investment liberalisation programmes recently. This also has become an international issue of tremendous current interest given its implications on the global environment and trading system. International organisations such as WTO, OECD and the United Nations and regional trading agreements such as NAFTA, EEC and APEC have been actively involved in this policy debate.