The European Commission proposed on Wednesday giving the European Union the power to impose sanctions on future free trade agreement partners that disregard labor and environmental standards.
Many of the EU’s existing deals, such as with Canada and Japan, and those negotiated but not yet in force, such as with Mexico and Chile, already have chapters on sustainability.
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However, disputes in this field are settled by dialogue. Sanctions, such as revoking trade concessions through tariffs or quotas, are not an option.
Civil society groups and many EU lawmakers have argued that environmental and labor standards should be a central part of the EU’s trade strategy and that its green push is toothless.
The Commission, which oversees trade for the 27 EU members, largely agreed at the end of a year-long review.
The EU executive said it would continue to seek dialogue to resolve disputes over labor and the environment, some of which go to an adjudicating panel.
Under the proposal, the EU could impose sanctions as a last resort if the panel rules against a trading partner.
The proposal comes two days after 15 EU members wrote to EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis urging the bloc to accelerate the conclusion of free trade agreements.
There is a risk that incorporating a sanctioning system could drag out the process even more.
Sanctions would be triggered for breaching the Paris climate change agreement or the core principles of the International Labor Organization.
These concern forced or child labor, discrimination in the workplace and freedom of association. The ILO may add a fifth principle on occupational health and safety.
The proposal needs approval by the European Parliament and the EU governments to enter force.
Some lawmakers, notably the Greens, believe sanctions should also be included in the EU’s existing free trade deals and deals still to be ratified.
Among the latter is the EU agreement with the Mercosur bloc of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, struck in 2019, but put on hold due to EU concerns about Amazon deforestation.
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