Why does Canada not support trade sanctions to enforce environmental obligations?
• First, the threat of trade sanctions evokes suspicion and fear that environmental issues could be used as disguised protectionism. • Second, trade sanctions punish the private sector, when the responsibility of enforcing environmental laws lies with the government. • Third, it has been our experience that governments’ non-compliance with environmental commitments is often due to administrative, technical and financial constraints. Sanctions can, therefore, exacerbate rather than solve the problem of non-compliance. • Fear of trade sanctions has been used as a rationale for not supporting the inclusion of environmental measures and commitments in the context of the FTAA process. Canada feels strongly that there is a positive environment and trade agenda that must be developed in the context of the FTAA if it is to promote sustainable development. Based on our experience with bilateral and sub-regional environmental agreements, it is our view that trade sanctions are not needed in such
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