While the EU is in the process of validating the trade agreement with the Mercosur countries (see other news), the European Commission published the conclusions of an evaluation, on Wednesday 7 January, highlighting that the environmental and climate provisions of the EU’s free trade agreements contributed “positively” to the environmental policy and sustainable development efforts of its trading partners.
This evaluation was carried out between October 2023 and November 2024 by analysing seven trade agreements containing comprehensive chapters on trade and sustainable development (TSD) and covering the following countries: Canada, Costa Rica and Honduras (same agreement), Georgia, Japan, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.
The evaluation states that these agreements “help reinforce existing commitments and, in some cases, encourage the adoption of additional environmental protocols”.
They do, however, play a limited but “supportive” role in ensuring that regulations are complied with and enforced.
The document adds that free trade agreements contribute to the creation of alliances and multilateral cooperation on biodiversity and climate. In the context of trade in environmental goods and services, they are also said to support the diffusion of green technologies and sustainable production methods.
To see the evaluation: https://aeur.eu/f/k6y (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)