World Trade

14 March 2001: This week the World Trade Organisation ruled in favour of a French ban on asbestos after it found that toxic asbestos was not the same as safer materials.

Greenpeace political director Remi Parmentier said that this was an important step because it represented a validation of the precautionary principle in trade related disputes. Read the whole press release

14 March 2001: NGOs welcome WTO greenlight to French asbestos ban but remain sceptical about WTO dispute settlement process

Download PATHWAY TO SAFE TRADE - Greenpeace's paper delivered at the meeting of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, 27-38 March 2000.

Download the Greenpeace International Seminars on Safe Trade report, July 2000
Download 'Safe Trade in the 21st Century' a Greenpeace briefing kit, September 1999.

Streaming video:
Click here to view the Greenpeace video 'Safe Trade in Practice' a panel discussion over trade and environmental issues:

In order to reduce risks and guarantee maximum protection, it is important to practice Safe Trade. When practiced responsibly, Safe Trade can prevent various infectious global problems such as poverty, deforestation, desertification, pollution, and the exhaustion of species, natural resources and habitats. Practicing Safe Trade also encourages your partners to act responsibly. Remember, Safe Trade only works when you use it! Use it every time you trade!

After conducting an open and careful assessment of the social and environmental impacts of existing trade policies, you will:

1) Recognise and respect Multilateral Environmental Agreements;

2) Reward sustainable production an consumption patterns and internalise the costs to the environment;

3) Endorse and implement the Precautionary Principle, including a reversal of the burden of proof;

4) Accept national trade-related measures to protect the environment;

5) Accept distinctions based on Production or Processing Methods (PPMs), eco and other labeling schemes;

6) Become transparent and open, and invite NGOs to participate in WTO proceedings;

7) Eliminate environmentally destructive subsidies (i.e. in the forest, agriculture, fisheries, and energy sectors);

8) Limit the expansion of the WTO, unless Safe Trade has become practice.

SAFE TRADE IN THE 21ST CENTURY A Greenpeace Briefing Kit prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law and Greenpeace International, September 1999.