The Current Status and Insights of China's RTA Environmental Provisions

Abstract

This paper systematically reviews the development status of environmental clauses in global and Chinese regional trade agreements (RTAs). At the global level, RTA environmental provisions have shown an evolutionary trend from decentralized distribution to the establishment of independent environmental chapters, and from principled provisions to legally binding provisions. China has signed 23 free trade agreements, covering various forms of environmental provisions, but there are still few agreements with special environmental chapters, and the enforcement of laws needs to be improved. Based on the current situation, this paper puts forward three enlightenments: first, take the initiative to lead and participate in the negotiation and upgrading of high-standard RTA environmental clauses; second, actively benchmark international rules and optimize the institutional environment of the domestic service industry; The third is to strategically deepen and expand the RTA network, giving priority to promoting "South-South cooperation" and rule docking with developing countries.