How trade agreements could strengthen human rights and environmental protection in the raw materials sector
Environmental degradation and human rights violations are commonplace in the mining of raw materials. Nevertheless, the European Union's trade agreements are designed exclusively to ensure that European companies have access to raw materials abroad. In particular, these treaties require partner countries to remove restrictions on raw materials. But this does not have to be the case. Trade agreements could help to ensure that human rights and environmental protection are respected and that those affected by the extraction of raw materials have a guaranteed say.
This English-language study makes a number of concrete proposals on how commodity chapters in EU trade agreements could contribute to respect for human rights and environmental protection. It shows that detailed guidelines in this area could promote respect for international human rights and environmental standards and anchor the voice of affected people and communities. In order for this to become a reality, a turnaround in the treatment of raw materials in European trade agreements is necessary: From liberalisation to regulation of trade in raw materials.
