绿色贸易壁垒外文翻译文献

绿色贸易壁垒外文翻译文献

绿色贸易壁垒外文翻译文献

(文档含英文原文和中文翻译)

- 1 - Journal of Economic Surveys

Green Barriers Trade and its Influences on

China's Foreign Trade

Thomas J. Sargent

ABSTRACT

In recent years, green consumption has become a main trend of the

consumption in many developed countries and these countries began to make

strict standards to restrict the entry of foreign products below their standards

of environmental protection.

Key words：Green Barriers; products; Trade

In recent years, green consumption has become a main trend of the

consumption in many developed countries and these countries began to make

strict standards to restrict the entry of foreign products below their standards

of environmental protection. These regulations have many unfavorable

influences on the export of developing countries and are generally known as

"Green Barriers to trade". In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement

on Green Barriers to Trade of WTO, "Green Barriers to Trade" is defined as

the compulsory and arbitrary Green regulations, standards and conformity

assessment procedures of the importing countries in the name of the

protection of human health and environment that actually form barriers to

- 2 - trade with an aim to protect its home market and domestic products.

1. Analysis on the causes of formation of "Green Trade

Barriers"

Firstly, the worsening of ecology is the major reason for "Green

Barriers". With the development of industry and technology, the economy

increases very fast and the human life has been improved. But at the same

time, the development of economy is at a cost of the destruction of

environment. The environmental problems have aroused public attention and

the international society has begun to make laws to protect environment. In

June, 1972, the United Nations published the Stockholm Declaration and

stressed the importance of the protection of environment. From then on, more

and more people concern about the environmental problems. The concept of

environment has influenced the life of humankinds in every layer and the

developed countries began to make very strict

environmental protection rules under the pressure of public, which forms a

barrier to the international trade.

Secondly, the differences between countries in technology,

environmental standards and investment directly cause the "Green Trade

Barriers". As we know, developed countries surpass the developing countries

in science and technology. Even if they make very strict environmental

standards, their domestic products can reach the requirements of strict

- 3 - environmental standards while such standards may constitute barriers to

products from developing countries. In fact, these standards may become

discriminations against products from the developing countries and constitute

a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between country.

Thirdly, the rise of protectionism in some developed countries

contributes much to the formation of Green barriers. In modern market

economy, competition is more severe than before. The domestic industries are

directly facing competition from the products of other countries, and they will

urge their governments to take effective measures to protect them from the

foreign products. While because of the multilateral negotiations of WTO,

the tariffs have been greatly cut down and the use of non-tariff measures has

also been restricted. Therefore, many developed countries have to resort to

some legal restrictions of importation such as Green barriers to protect their

home industries, which gives rise to the increase of Green barriers.

2. The main forms of Green barriers trade

In accordance with the related provisions of WTO Agreement on Green

Barriers to Trade, the Green barriers are usually in the forms as follows:

2.1 Green Tariff

Some developed countries would impose import surtax on products that

may cause pollution or harms to the environment. If such measure is abused,

- 4 - it will constitute a Green barrier to trade.

2.2 Green Standards

Green standards refer to those compulsory Green standards provided

through legislation. With their superiority in economy and technology,

developed countries tend to make higher Green standards with no

consideration on the interests of the developing countries. Such high Green

standards will in fact constitute a barrier to the products from developing

countries which are inferior in technology.

2.3 Package Requirements

Certain developed countries stress too much on the protection of

environment and require the products should be packed with materials that