Background

International trade has been identified by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) as one of the leading causes of biodiversity loss. Beyond the direct impact of the trade of goods (trade in endangered species, transport, and spread of alien invasive species), international trade liberalisation has also increased the externalisation of biodiversity loss. Yet, while there is a growing literature on the links between climate and trade, and more recently, forest and trade, legal scholars rarely consider the nexus between international trade law and biodiversity protection. In addition, the conversation remains focused on the WTO as well as the approaches of the EU and the USA to ‘trade and’ issues.

This project starts with a workshop to kick-start the conversation in Asia on the integration of biodiversity in free trade agreements (FTAs), also called preferential trade agreements (PTAs). The workshop, held in Singapore,  will include a group of 12 young and established scholars for a 2-day discussion in Singapore.