JPAC holds its first regular session for 2003, focusing on matters related to trade and the environment

Public Workshop on Chapter 11 of NAFTA

Gustavo Alanís-Ortega, the JPAC chair for 2003, chaired the Chapter 11 workshop that drew some 150 participants. A background paper, developed by Mr. Aaron Cosbey, senior advisor to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, formed the basis for the discussion.

The purpose of this second JPAC session on the issue was to focus on the widening debate over the controversial dispute settlement process, to see if NAFTA's Chapter 11 protects the rights of foreign investors over the environment. The session was attended by many experts in this field from all three countries, and they brought with them a range of experiences and points of view. The resulting discussions were dynamic, sometimes heated, and extremely productive.

JPAC drew on the results of the workshop and its own substantive deliberations and developed an Advice to the CEC Council on Seeking Balance between the Interests of the Public and Investors in the Application of Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The CEC Council is composed of the environment ministers of Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Second North American Symposium on Assessing the Environmental Effects of Trade

The purpose of the second CEC-organized environment and trade symposium was to address the linkages between selected North American environmental issues in the agriculture and energy sectors and increasing trade liberalization, taking into account NAFTA and other international trade regimes. Thirteen original papers were commissioned on various aspects of this topic to support the meetings.

Following the symposium, JPAC provided an Advice to the CEC Council on the Second North American Symposium on Assessing the Environmental Effects of Trade, focusing on various issues, including: the assessment of positive and negative impacts from subsidy systems on the environment and the natural capital of North America; the necessity of building on the momentum generated by the CEC's work on trade and the environment; the importance of the CEC Council working with their trade counterparts, through NAAEC Article 10(6), to build an environmentally friendly trade regime in the Free Trade of the Americas Agreement negotiations; the impacts of liberalized trade on indigenous peoples; and the importance of concluding an agreement on transboundary environmental impact assessment, to ensure that a broad range of societal interests are part of trade and development decision-making.

Next JPAC Meeting

JPAC's next regular session will be held on 23–25 June in Washington, DC, in conjunction with the 2003 Regular Session of Council. JPAC will hold a plenary session with the North American Working Group on Environmental Enforcement and Compliance (EWG) and organize a public workshop on Emerging Air Quality Issues in North America.

The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement partners in implementing NAAEC, the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC addresses environmental issues of continental concern, with particular attention to the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.

JPAC is a 15-member, independent, volunteer body that provides advice and public input to Council on any matter within the scope of NAAEC.

All JPAC and CEC official publications can be found on the CEC web site at http://www.cec.org.

For more information on these meetings, please contact:

Manon Pepin
Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America
393, rue St-Jacques Ouest, Bureau 200
Montréal, Québec, Canada H2Y 1N9
Tel: (514) 350-4300; Fax: (514) 350-4314
E-mail: mpepin@ccemtl.org

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