International Trade Labor and Environmental Regulations

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Recommended: Advantages of Free Trade in the International Political Economy

International Trade Labor and Environmental Regulations

Seattle, Thusday, December 2, 1999- All was confusion, Police in riot gear shouted to one another as tear gas was shot into the mass of violent protesters. What triggered this violent protest was the World Trade Organiztion or WTO. The WTO aims to establish global free trade. Free trade means repealing all trade barriers and restrictions all over the world. This would allow large corporations to exploit the abcence of labor and/or enviornmental laws in deveoping countries. Globalisation, however much good it will do, cannot proceed without international agreements on labor and enviornmental standards.

The World Trade organization came into being in 1995. Neither George Bush or Ronald Reagan would allow its creation, but it was finally formed under the Clinton administration. The WTO claims globalisation would encourage trade between countries, increasing social and cultural diversity between nations and improve national realtions all over the world. Also, Free trade would bring jobs to developing nations, allowing them to establish a base workforce, and develop into economicaly and politicaly stable nations.(www.WTO.org all pages)

On the other side of the coin, allowing Free Trade would mean allowing buisinesses to relocate to developing nations where laxer labor and/or enviornmental laws allow them to produce their product more cheaply and more efficiently. Child labor is one of many great hinderence in the path of golbalization, in many countries, young children work in factories for low wages, making products for export to America. Child labor is cheap, efficient, and abundant in developing countries where birth control is a comodity. This makes it a draw for fore...

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...2. Burgess, John, “Gasoline Dispute Highlights Environmental Concerns” The Washington Post, Washington Nov 29, 1999 pg. A18

3. Dijck P. van, and Faber, G. (eds.), Challenges to the new World Trade Organization, 299-306 1996 Kluwer Law International

4. Gutermann, Paul, “Environmental issues affect global trade talks” National Law Journal, New York Nov 22, 1999 pg. B11

5. Mayne, Ruth “Labbyists labor rights, British commitment could save lives of trade unionists argues Ruth Mayne” The Guardian Manchester, Jun 20, 1997 pg. 1, 27:1

6. Page, Susan; “Clintons words on labor rights draw controversy” USA Today, Arlington; Dec. 3 1999 pg. 16A

7. “Seattle protests evoke social unrest of the 1960s/Marches may have lifted WTO from Obscurity,” Houston Chronical, Houston, Tex.; Dec. 3, 1999 pg.1

Internet source

8. http://www.WTO.or/wto/inbrief as of Dec. 12 1999

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