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Environmental Consequence of Trade Openness for Environmental Goods

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  • de Alwis, J.M.D.D.J.

Abstract

With the increasing concerns on detrimental environmental effects of world trade, WTO member countries in 2001 called for reduction or elimination of tariffs and non-tariffs barriers on Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) claiming that would improve environmental protection and economic development simultaneously. The study investigated the impact of opening trade of EGS on environmental quality estimating pollution functions of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Carbon Dioxides (CO2) using cross country data for 62 countries. Estimated SO2 pollution function revealed that elimination of tariff on EGS trade result in falling SO2 emissions in comparison to increasing SO2 pollution as a result eliminating tariff on non EGS trade. Findings formally support for the liberalization of EGS. Falling of SO2 pollution due to elimination of tariff on EGS is due to differences in countries’ capital-labour endowments. The findings suggests that falling pollution due to EGS trade liberalization has no relationship with the income level of the countries, but favour capital abundant countries in reducing the pollution emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • de Alwis, J.M.D.D.J., . "Environmental Consequence of Trade Openness for Environmental Goods," Sri Lankan Journal of Agricultural Economics, Sri Lanka Agricultural Economics Association (SAEA), vol. 16, pages 1-20.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:saeasj:233667
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.233667
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Hu, Xiurong & Pollitt, Hector & Pirie, Jamie & Mercure, Jean-Francois & Liu, Junfeng & Meng, Jing & Tao, Shu, 2020. "The impacts of the trade liberalization of environmental goods on power system and CO2 emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    2. Natalia Zugravu-Soilita, 2016. "Trade in environmental goods and sustainable development: What are we learning from the transition economies’ experience?," Working Papers 2016.16, FAERE - French Association of Environmental and Resource Economists.

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