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environment

Overselling EU trade deals: new study uncovers failures of sustainability impact assessments
11-May-2022 Greenpeace
The European Commission uses flawed and tardy sustainability impact assessments as a fig leaf for environmentally, socially and economically damaging EU trade agreements, according to a new study.
Thai gold mine blamed for sickening local villagers is set to reopen
11-May-2022 Mongabay
Citing the free-trade agreement between Australia and Thailand, Kingsgate, announced in November 2017 that it had filed a suit against Thailand at an international arbitration tribunal.
Key human rights tests for UK free trade agreements
9-May-2022 Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Without adequate rules and the right business incentives to protect workers and communities, trade deals can contribute to a ‘race to the bottom’.
Serving of notice of dispute
5-May-2022 Ascent Resources
Amendments to the mining law in Slovenia which prohibit the use of any hydraulic stimulation in mining exploitation constitute further breaches of the protections established by the BIT and the ECT.
EU-Mercosur trade deal to clear environmental hurdles this year, EU commissioner says
2-May-2022 Reuters
The European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur could by year’s end resolve environmental concerns that are holding up a free trade agreement, EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said.
UK farmers must compete with ‘cruel and unsustainable’ farming practices due to Australia trade deal
30-Mar-2022 The Independent
Post-Brexit agreement contains ‘no safeguards’ for environmental protections or animal welfare, campaigners warn.
Chinese companies exploit Indonesia’s natural resources under BRI Initiative
29-Mar-2022 ANI
The operations of Chinese companies under the Belt and Road Initiative in Indonesia have become a hazard for the country’s environment, disturbing its ecological equilibrium resulting into population displacement.
Riches for Australian miner equals misery for Thai villagers
4-Mar-2022 Michael West
The gold mine was closed by the Thai government, but an obscure clause in a “free trade” agreement has allowed the lucrative mine in Central Thailand to reopen.
Guatemalan water defenders celebrate 10 years of resistance
3-Mar-2022 Inequality.org
An attempted assassination, criminalization, and violent eviction in 2014 didn’t stop the Peaceful Resistance of La Puya in Guatemala, which won legal action suspending harmful mining activities.
A sea of trouble: Seabed mining and international arbitration in Mexico
2-Mar-2022 Inequality.org
In the Gulf of Ulloa, a US treasure-hunting company turned seabed mining outfit poses a dire risk to the environment.
The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement: A critical analysis and an alternative
23-Feb-2022 TNI
The EU-Mercosur trade agreement leads to the destruction of nature, violation of land rights of farmers and Indigenous people and loss of industrial jobs in the Mercosur countries.
Toxic mine to re-open after Australian gold miner sues Thai Government
15-Feb-2022 AFTINET
Environmental defenders in Thailand have slammed a decision by the Thai Government to reinstate formerly revoked mining licenses following a lengthy legal battle in an international arbitration tribunal.
Thai Prime Minister under fire over reopening of Australian gold mine
8-Feb-2022 The Sydney Morning Herald
The mine was shut amid accusations of villagers being poisoned by leaking toxic waste. Kingsgate, whose Thai subsidiary Akara Resources had operated the mine since 2001, filed an international arbitration lawsuit.
Dangerous man, dangerous deals
24-Jan-2022 Greenpeace
Why the EU should not strengthen relations with Bolsonaro.
Energy Charter Treaty claim pushes Slovenia to weaken fracking rules
17-Jan-2022 Friends of the Earth Europe
A new example of how this secretive corporate court system is undermining climate and environmental policies of EU member states has been brought to light.
Palm oil attacks? Why EU’s latest sustainability plans risk alienating Indonesia amid free trade talks
12-Jan-2022 Food Navigator Asia
Palm oil industry experts have warned that the European Union’s (EU) latest proposed regulations on deforestation carry major risk of upsetting Indonesia amidst ongoing free-trade negotiations.
Chile’s Codelco requests second arbitration against Ecuador over copper project
3-Jan-2022 Reuters
Chile’s state-controlled Codelco requested a second international arbitration process with Ecuador and its National Mining Company (Enami EP) over the Llurimagua copper project.
Australian beef linked to deforestation could end up part of post-Brexit trade deal
15-Dec-2021 The Guardian
Investigation finds areas of cleared land in Queensland likely to be habitats for threatened species.
India-EU free trade talks hit slow lane over labour, environment, investment issues
10-Dec-2021 BusinessLine
There is no clarity now over when formal negotiations on the proposed India-EU trade pact would begin.
Greenpeace urges Canada to drop trade deal to save the Amazon
1-Dec-2021 National Observer
An environmental group is pleading with the Canadian government to reject a controversial trade deal it says would further fuel deforestation in the Amazon in a new letter addressed to Canada’s minister of foreign affairs.