Question

One common critique of the WTO is that it overturns national environmental protections and forces countries to lower standards. Research and find at least one example where the WTO has done this. What are the implications to the country, to the rest of the member states, and to international trade when the WTO overturns such national environmental protections?

Answer 1

One criticism of WTO is that it is anti environment.Free trade has often not taken care of environmental considerations . The most important goal of the WTO is maximization of GDP.Increasing GDP is not of much importance when countries globally are facing environmental problems like global warming.Eg WTO has not taken action against  free trade of imports from countries which has  less environmental protection.It is argued that the WTO should work to promote  better environmental conditions.

WTO supports suastainable development and green economy . But when the WTO ignores national environmental protection,the increase in trade will affect the volume of pollution which in turn will increase environmental damage. Trade involves use of energy for transporting which has many environmental impacts, increase in air pollution being the main.So the member states and the country suffers ,when the WTO follows anti environment policy by allowing free trade with countries with less environmental protection.