Economics, Trade and Incentive Measures

 
Submission
ID 29881
 
Main Information
Title Defining Environmental Goods and Services: A Case Study of Mexico
Description Environmental goods and services (EGS) as a subset of goods and services were singled out for attention in the 
negotiating mandate adopted at the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 
November 2001. Increasing access to and use of EGS can contribute to improving environmental quality and pollution 
abatement in both developed and developing countries. Trade in these sectors can also be a powerful tool for 
economic development by generating economic growth and employment and enabling the transfer of valuable skills, 
technology and know-how embedded in such goods and services. Furthermore, trade in EGS can facilitate the achievement of sustainable development goals laid out in global mandates such as the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, the UN Millennium Development Goals and various multilateral environmental agreements. On the other hand, the negative impacts of liberalisation on vulnerable industries in developing countries, in particular fledgling small and medium-sized enterprises, and sections of populations without the purchasing power to access privately-delivered EGS, such as sanitation, has often been cited. This has also led to calls among some stakeholders that liberalisation should be gradual or carefully qualified and in certain cases that countries should be able to stop or roll back liberalisation that may have these negative impacts.
Web Link /doc/case-studies/inc/cs-inc-mxenv-en.pdf
 
Additional Information
Authors Enrique Lendo
Source Lendo, E. (2005), ICTSD Trade and Environment Series Issue Paper No.1, CEC and ICTSD, Geneva, Switzerland
Countries Mexico
Regions Latin America and the Caribbean
Incentive Measures Positive Incentives (subsidies, tax breaks, ...)
Keywords Support payment
Definitions
Compensation for loss of use
Conservation payments