Trade Negotiations and Agreements

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Trade and Environment

Ongoing Environmental Assessments

Environmental Assessment of Trade - FAQ

GENERAL
1.	Why conduct an EA of trade and investment negotiations?
2.	What guides the environmental assessment of trade and investment negotiations?
3.	What are the objectives of the Government of Canada’s Framework for Conducting Environmental Assessments of Trade Negotiations?
4.	Who conducts the Government of Canada’s EAs of trade and investment negotiations?
5.	What are the key steps in the EA process?
6.	What negotiations are assessed?
7.	How are EAs of trade and investment negotiations different from environmental impact assessments?
8.	How many EAs of trade and investment negotiations have been completed?

METHODOLOGY
9.	What methodology is used for assessing the environmental impacts of trade and investment negotiations?
10.	What are the key challenges for assessing the environmental impacts of trade and investment agreements?
11.	Why not have an independent body conduct the environmental assessment of trade and investment negotiations?
12.	Does the Government of Canada coordinate its EA of trade process with the countries which it is negotiating trade and investment agreements?

SCOPE
13.	What is the scope of the various EAs of trade and investment negotiations?
14.	On what basis is the expected outcome of a negotiation determined for the purposes of the EA?
15.	Why doesn't the Government of Canada approach to EA of trade and investment negotiations assess environmental impacts outside of Canada?
16.	Why doesn’t the Government of Canada approach to EA of trade and investment negotiations assess social impacts of negotiations?
17.	Are other countries conducting environmental assessments of trade negotiations?
18.	How does the approach used within the Canadian government compare with the approach others use to assess the impacts of trade negotiations?
19.	Does the Government of Canada assess trade and investment policies unrelated to a specific negotiation?
20.	Are trade and investment disputes subject to an environmental assessment?

TRANSPARENCY AND CONSULTATIONS
21.	Who is consulted during an EA of a trade negotiations?
22.	How can the public get involved?
23.	How are public comments used?

OUTCOMES
24.	How does an EA of trade inform the Canadian negotiating activities?
25.	How are last minute changes in negotiations assessed for their environmental implications?
26.	How have the assessments affected negotiations?
27.	Are the findings from an environmental assessment binding?
28.	How is the environment considered after an agreement is concluded?

Last Updated:
2006-05-30

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