Environmental Obligations in Free Trade Agreements and Countermeasures

Abstract

Free trade agreements mainly refer to legally binding contracts formulated by two or more countries to achieve economic integration and eliminate trade barriers and free trade agreements are conducive to the development of international trade and the steady growth of national economy. In free trade agreements, attention should be paid not only to economic and trade development, but also to environmental protection. In particular, free trade should not be at the cost of destroying the environment, nor should it hinder free trade under the pretext of environmental protection. In order to coordinate and effectively handle the relationship between free trade and environmental protection, the environmental chapter of the Free Trade Agreement emerged in due time as the main response method to fulfill the environmental obligations in the Free Trade Agreement. It not only effectively coordinates the relationship between free trade and environmental protection, but also provides a powerful boost to the development of free trade and environmental protection.