CISDL experts held two roundtables on its latest project entitled “Strengthening Legal Analysis, Engagement, and Capacity for High Climate Ambition Commitments to Sustainability in Refining and Implementing EU-Americas Trade Treaties”. Held on 24th and 27th of November 2023, with a series of experts and members of civil society from Latin America and New Zealand, the discussions centered on the preliminary results of the two reports done by CISDL researchers, both of which focused on the relationship between the EU’s free trade agreements (FTAs) with the Americas and sustainable development.
The first report involves the analysis of EU FTAs with its Latin America trading partners and New Zealand, on the one hand, and the goals of the Paris Agreement, on the other. The discussions surrounding this paper explored broader tensions and opportunities, questioning the enforceability of ambitious targets, potential chilling effects on trade, and leveraging existing frameworks to achieve stronger commitments. Emphasis was placed on civil society participation, balancing the needs of developed and developing countries, and exploring alternatives to sanctions. The policy paper proposed aligning FTA obligations with the Paris Agreement to raise climate ambition.
The second report presented – entitled “Evaluating Post-treaty Options in EU FTAs for Promoting More Ambitious Sustainability Commitments” – is geared toward integrating climate change & sustainable development into specific EU-Latin America FTAs through various methods, such as committee and council decisions. The research showed how these decisions, taken at the FTA council level, can be just as effective as an amendment to the actual text of the FTA. Highlighting the results of each agreement (Andean Community, Chile, Mercosur, Central America, New Zealand), the CISDL experts and the community of practice emphasized the challenges and opportunities of ongoing negotiations and the key role of environmental concerns.
Both roundtables underscored the need for careful consideration and creative solutions, prioritizing multi-stakeholder perspectives and consensus building, to ensure that trade agreements support, not hinder, ambitious climate action under the Paris Agreement.
See below for the Full Reports from each Roundtable: