A Variety of Environmental Provisions in East Asian FTAs and the Role of Knowledge

Abstract

This study explores the varieties of environmental provisions in East Asian Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Focusing on the variable characteristics of the environmental provisions, this study statistically analyzed 80 FTAs concluded by the member states of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, and South Korea. In addition to economic variables as much in the existing research on a trade-environment relation, this analysis highlights the role of cognitive attributes of actors. The empirical analysis found that knowledge is a key factor that determines the strength of the linkage between trade and the environment in East Asians FTAs. In spite of an unignorable impact of political and economic power in the international negotiations, this study shows that non-material factors also have a considerable influence on the negotiation outcome. Meanwhile, at least in the East Asian context, states tend to see environmental consideration as an obstacle to trade. Since most of the East Asian countries still put more emphasis on economic growth through trade, they are relatively reluctant to link environmental consideration to trade. This empirical evidence explains why East Asian FTAs entails less substantive environmental linkage to trade, despite the East Asian states possess an average level of environmental knowledge.