Chairs of the Hemispheric Trade and Sustainability Symposium to Release a Policy Statement on the FTAA and Sustainable Development

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Chairs of the Hemispheric Trade and Sustainability Symposium to Release

a Policy Statement on the FTAA and Sustainable Development

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TO INTERNATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

Chairs of the Hemispheric Trade and Sustainability Symposium to Release

a Policy Statement on the FTAA and Sustainable Development

Document urges heads of States to break the "Seattle Syndrome"

CANADA, Apr. 18 -/E-Wire/-- In their capacity as Chairs of the Hemispheric Trade and Sustainability Symposium, Pierre Marc Johnson, former Premier of the Province of Quebec and Counsel at Heenan Blaikie, David Runnalls, President and CEO of the IISD, and Enrique Leff from the UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean will release a policy statement entitled: The FTAA and Hemispheric Integration - Building a Triple-Win Strategy for Trade and Sustainability in the Hemisphere.

A zero-sum relationship has gradually developed between a growing part of civil society and trade and economic international forums and processes since the Seattle events. Mr. Johnson, Leff, and Runnalls believe that the Quebec Summit is a unique occasion to break this Seattle Syndrome. Indeed, the Summit of the Americas constitutes a very important forum where trade, social, and environmental policy can be integrated into a coherent and integrated strategy. By adopting the proposed strategy, countries of the hemisphere would do much to renew public support for trade liberalisation and economic integration in the Americas.

The policy statement, which will be presented to delegations at the Summit of the Americas, calls countries of the hemisphere to address the sustainability issues that are related to the FTAA by making a strong commitment toward the implementation of an integrated strategy in the field of trade and environment. The strategy rests on three pillars:

-- Build an environmentally sound FTAA through the incorporation of a series of environmental provisions in the text of the Agreement.

-- Strengthen environmental cooperation in the Americas, especially in trade-sensitive or trade-related sectors.

-- Strengthen dialogue with civil society by creating a High Level Hemispheric Experts Group on Trade and Sustainability

The statement proposes to adopt a positive strategy on trade and environmental issues by identifying policies that can benefit trade liberalisation, social development, and the protection of the environment. It also suggests key areas for policy action, and means to strengthen the hemispheric framework for environmental cooperation. It is proposed to create an Americas Ecological Accord to integrate environmental policies, institutions, and instruments in the hemisphere. Special attention is also given to the key role of Sub-regional institutions such as the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation.

The coordination of trade and environment policy remains a considerable challenge, especially at the hemispheric level. The Policy statement proposes the creation of a High Level Hemispheric Experts Group on Trade and Sustainability to act as a bridging mechanism between the trade and environment communities. The Experts Group should report to the FTAA Trade Negotiations Committee and to various environmental processes in the Americas.

The policy statement will be available at the press conference or on the symposium website: www.iisd.org/trade/qc2001)

International Institute for Sustainable Development

Karel Mayrand, Director and media Relations Coordinator

Marie Claire Segger, Director, (514) 581-4984

http://www.iisd.org/trade/qc2001

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