Admissions Open
Admissions Open
The essay explores the link between trade and environment, through the common linking point of trade in environmental goods and services. These goods and services are at present the focus of an on-going, rather slow process of agreement for the liberalization of trade. Although part of Doha Declarations, the negotiations were shifted to a plurilateral platform after lack of consensus. The negotiating group consists of mainly developed nations, thus the perspective of developing nations remain unrepresented except by rather lonely voice of China. This essay makes a case for India to join the negotiations and spearhead a bid to shape the agreement in a way that takes into account the interests of developing nations, like India. Reasons, such as forming a definition that gives due weight to sustainable development, are presented which make a compelling case for why India should take initiative instead of free riding the agreement later. A lot depends on India’s role in environmental goods agreement in its journey to a green economy and sustainable development.