[pt] Este trabalho analisa comparativamente, sob uma perspectiva neo institucionalista, dois projetos distintos de integração regional: União Européia - fruto de um processo que remonta à década de 1950, mais institucionalizado, com maior delegação a órgãos supranacionais e também maior número de estados membros, e Nafta - mais recente, de caráter intergovernamental, ênfase em mecanismos de solução de controvérsias, menor número de estados, grande disparidade de poder entre as partes e onde, aparentemente, a lógica de mercado se sobrepõe à ética ambiental - no que diz respeito à incorporação e administração da agenda ambiental. Tal análise é realizada a partir do estudo do desenho institucional de cada projeto. Especial atenção é dada às instituições, órgãos, atores e mecanismos relacionados ao estabelecimento, execução e fiscalização de políticas ambientais. Os resultados obtidos indicam como o desenho institucional de Nafta e da UE reflete o modo como as questões ambientais são incorporadas e tratadas nestes arranjos. / [en] This Project compares, under an institutionalist perspective, two distinct regional projects: The European Union - a product of a process initiated in the 1950 s, with higher level of institutionalization and delegation to supranational bodies and with also more member states, and the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) - a more recent venture, of intergovernmental character, with emphasis on mechanisms of dispute resolution, less states and sharper differences between the parties, where the logic of the market seems to lie above environmental ethics - regarding the incorporation of an environmental agenda within regional institutions, as well as the management of this agenda. Such analysis is performed through the study of the projects institutional design. Special attention is given to institutions, bodies, actors and mechanisms dealing with environmental policies establishment, execution and enforcement. The results obtained indicate what does Nafta and EUs institutional designs can tell about the incorporation and treatment given by these regional arrangements to environmental affairs.

[pt] Esta pesquisa tem como tema a aproximação entre as agendas internacionais de comércio e meio ambiente, mais especificamente a inserção de cláusulas ambientais em acordos internacionais de comércio, a partir da experiência do Nafta. Busca as origens deste fenômeno na sociedade civil dos EUA, utilizando-se do conceito neogramsciano de hegemonia. Argumenta-se que o projeto de integração econômica regional é parte da estratégia de consolidação da hegemonia dos EUA, mas que a negociação do Acaan - acordo paralelo para tratar a questão ambiental - é resultado da atuação de ONGs ambientalistas desta sociedade civil. Examina-se o desenho institucional do Nafta e do Acaan, concedendo especial ênfase aos mecanismos de solução de controvérsias. Explorando os traços do desenho institucional e as contradições geradas principalmente a partir do Capítulo sobre investimentos, conclui-se que os interesses econômicos vêm prevalecendo sobre os ambientais. / [en] This Project concerns with the approach of the international agendas of trade and environment, working with the Nafta´s experience. Making use of the neo-gramscian concept of hegemony, the search look for these phenomenon origins in the US civil society. It argues that the economic regional integration is part of the US strategy of hegemonic consolidation, but in respect of Naaec - the side agreement negotiated to deal with de environment issues - it argues that it results from the US environmetalist NGOs actions. It examinate the Nafta´s and Naaec´s institutional design, giving special attention to the dispute settlement procedures. Exploring the institutional design characteristics and the contradictions that born from the agreements, mainly in respect of the investment Chapter, it concludes that the economic interests have being prevailing over the environmental ones.

Univ., Diss.--Hamburg, 2001. / Text im Anhang in engl. Spr.- Literaturverz. S. 233 - 245.

The enactment of the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was intended to reduce tariffs on most goods by 2008 among Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and to create the largest regional market outside the European Union. Early research conducted to investigate the relationships between tariffs elimination and trade volume focused mainly on macrolevel effects with mixed results, without acknowledging the possible influence from exchange rate fluctuations. After 20 years, NAFTA has provided the opportunity to observe a significant reduction in tariffs between 1994 and 2013. Skepticism regarding the relationship between trade liberalization and the regional economy, and the controversy still surrounding NAFTA, suggests that other factors might influence trade, making the current study relevant. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible relationships between exchange rate fluctuations and trade volume during a period when tariffs were eliminated. This study focused on 2 basic theories of preferential trade and the exchange rate, and data were collected on imports-exports between Mexico and the United States. Regression analyses showed a relationship between exchange rate fluctuation and trade volume when tariffs are eliminated. The findings may help exporters and unions understand the implications of other factors affecting trade. The findings may also help union leaders understand how other economic factors may have implication on global economy rather than focusing solely on trade agreements, and to better strategize in addressing social issues of concern related to globalization.

The creation of fictional history in the tequila industry due to changes in government policy, trade agreements and big business.

Canadian agriculture trade with the United States, specifically trade in livestock and livestock commodities, has flourished under the NAFTA regime. However, the benefits of this trade liberalization have hidden environmental costs that seldom get noticed or accounted. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the hidden cost on water resources by first assessing the virtual water content (VWC) of various types of livestock and livestock products and then quantifying the virtual water flow (VWF) related to trade in livestock and its products between Canada and United States. The study also examined the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and evaluated its implications for Canadian water resources. The research was conducted in three parts. First, the background literature on NAFTA was studied and trade data were collected to understand the NAFTA regime and study the impacts on Canadian exports of livestock and livestock products from the 1990s. The trade data were collected from provincial agricultural ministries and Statistics Canada. Secondly, datasheets were created to calculate the VWC in the various categories of animals and ultimately to estimate VWF between the two countries. Finally, Alberta and Ontario were chosen as case study areas to investigate localized impacts on water resources due to trade under NAFTA. The research results indicate that there is a large difference in the amount of VW being transferred through livestock and livestock commodities from Canada to the U.S. The average difference in trade has been calculated to be 3.6 billion m3 per year. This makes Canada a net exporter of virtual water to the U.S. A closer look at the trade patterns reveals that the U.S. imports mostly water-intensive commodities like cattle and cattle commodities, while it exports mostly less-water intensive commodities like chicken and mutton. By eliminating numerous trade barriers, the agreement has allowed competitive market forces to play a more dominant role in determining agricultural trade flows between the two countries. NAFTA has been criticized and contested at different levels for encouraging bulk water export from Canada to the U.S. What has not received attention in this debate is that water is also being exported in other forms, i.e., the virtual form. The hidden environmental, costs (for the exporting countries) or benefits (to the importing countries) are not reflected in the pricing of agricultural commodities. NAFTA’s mandate for the expansion of trade and investment through the removal of all trade barriers between the two countries is encouraging increased VW trade. This trade, if overlooked, can have deleterious impacts on the water resources of Canada.

Canadian agriculture trade with the United States, specifically trade in livestock and livestock commodities, has flourished under the NAFTA regime. However, the benefits of this trade liberalization have hidden environmental costs that seldom get noticed or accounted. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the hidden cost on water resources by first assessing the virtual water content (VWC) of various types of livestock and livestock products and then quantifying the virtual water flow (VWF) related to trade in livestock and its products between Canada and United States. The study also examined the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and evaluated its implications for Canadian water resources. The research was conducted in three parts. First, the background literature on NAFTA was studied and trade data were collected to understand the NAFTA regime and study the impacts on Canadian exports of livestock and livestock products from the 1990s. The trade data were collected from provincial agricultural ministries and Statistics Canada. Secondly, datasheets were created to calculate the VWC in the various categories of animals and ultimately to estimate VWF between the two countries. Finally, Alberta and Ontario were chosen as case study areas to investigate localized impacts on water resources due to trade under NAFTA. The research results indicate that there is a large difference in the amount of VW being transferred through livestock and livestock commodities from Canada to the U.S. The average difference in trade has been calculated to be 3.6 billion m3 per year. This makes Canada a net exporter of virtual water to the U.S. A closer look at the trade patterns reveals that the U.S. imports mostly water-intensive commodities like cattle and cattle commodities, while it exports mostly less-water intensive commodities like chicken and mutton. By eliminating numerous trade barriers, the agreement has allowed competitive market forces to play a more dominant role in determining agricultural trade flows between the two countries. NAFTA has been criticized and contested at different levels for encouraging bulk water export from Canada to the U.S. What has not received attention in this debate is that water is also being exported in other forms, i.e., the virtual form. The hidden environmental, costs (for the exporting countries) or benefits (to the importing countries) are not reflected in the pricing of agricultural commodities. NAFTA’s mandate for the expansion of trade and investment through the removal of all trade barriers between the two countries is encouraging increased VW trade. This trade, if overlooked, can have deleterious impacts on the water resources of Canada.

Aquatic ecosystems are still being polluted with crude oil and other technogenic contaminants. In order to evaluate genotoxic and cytotoxic impact of this pollutants, micronucleus test and analysis of the other nuclear abnormalities is rather frequently being used. The main objective of the study is assessment of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity effects in different fish and bivalves exposed to the crude oil and other technogenic contaminants discharged from the several oil platforms (Statfjord B, Oseberg C, Minija). Environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the frequencies of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in cells of mussels and fish caged in different oil platforms (Ekofisk, Statfjord B) field zones in situ. The study results provide new information about environmental geno-cytotoxicity in oil platforms field zones. The peculiarities of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in fish and mussels after experimental treatment with crude oil from the North Sea oil platforms and Minija well in Lithuania and other technogenic contaminants (produced water, mixtures of PAHs, alkylphenols and heavy metals) were assessed. There were determined time-tissue-species-concentration-related relationships in induction of nuclear abnormalities in studied fish and mussels. The study results revealed usefulness of genotoxicity endpoints, as well as cytotoxicity endpoints for the evaluation of damage, caused by the contamination discharged from the marine oil... [to full text] / Į vandens ekosistemas patenka dideli kiekiai žaliavinės naftos bei naftos išgavimo technologinių procesų metu susidarančių teršalų. Šiame darbe analizuotas Šiaurės jūroje veikiančių naftos platformų (Statfjord B, Oseberg C), Barenco jūroje išgaunamos arktinės bei Lietuvoje esančio Minijos naftos gręžinio žaliavinės naftos, taip pat skirtingų gamybinių vandenų atskiedimų, įvairių poliaromatinių angliavandenilių ir alkilfenolių bei sunkiųjų metalų mišinių genotoksinis (pagal mikrobranduolių ir branduolio pumpurų dažnius) bei citotoksinis (pagal fragmentuotų-apoptozinių ir dvibranduolių ląstelių dažnius) poveikis skirtingų rūšių moliuskų ir žuvų ląstelėse. Taikant aktyvaus monitoringo metodą nustatytas Statfjord B ir Ekofisk naftos platformų aplinkos genotoksiškumas ir citotoksiškumas in situ. Šio darbo tyrimų rezultatai suteikė naujos informacijos apie naftos platformų aplinkos geno-citotoksiškumą, taip pat skirtingose platformose išgaunamos žaliavinės naftos, gamybinių vandenų, įvairių alkilfenolių, sunkiųjų metalų mišinių geno-citotoksinį poveikį vandens organizmams. Atlikti tyrimai leido įvertinti genotoksiškumo ir citotoksiškumo dėsningumus skirtingose organizmų grupėse ir jų audiniuose. Eksperimentų metu nustatyta skirtingų žaliavinės naftos, alkilfenolių, sunkiųjų metalų mišinių skirtingų koncentracijų, ekspozijos laiko bei geno-citotoksiškumo indukcijos priklausomybė. Darbe aprašyti metodai gali būti sėkmingai naudojami monitoringe kaip ankstyvieji biožymenys įvairių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Į vandens ekosistemas patenka dideli kiekiai žaliavinės naftos bei naftos išgavimo technologinių procesų metu susidarančių teršalų. Šiame darbe analizuotas Šiaurės jūroje veikiančių naftos platformų (Statfjord B, Oseberg C), Barenco jūroje išgaunamos arktinės bei Lietuvoje esančio Minijos naftos gręžinio žaliavinės naftos, taip pat skirtingų gamybinių vandenų atskiedimų, įvairių poliaromatinių angliavandenilių ir alkilfenolių bei sunkiųjų metalų mišinių genotoksinis (pagal mikrobranduolių ir branduolio pumpurų dažnius) bei citotoksinis (pagal fragmentuotų-apoptozinių ir dvibranduolių ląstelių dažnius) poveikis skirtingų rūšių moliuskų ir žuvų ląstelėse. Taikant aktyvaus monitoringo metodą nustatytas Statfjord B ir Ekofisk naftos platformų aplinkos genotoksiškumas ir citotoksiškumas in situ. Šio darbo tyrimų rezultatai suteikė naujos informacijos apie naftos platformų aplinkos geno-citotoksiškumą, taip pat skirtingose platformose išgaunamos žaliavinės naftos, gamybinių vandenų, įvairių alkilfenolių, sunkiųjų metalų mišinių geno-citotoksinį poveikį vandens organizmams. Atlikti tyrimai leido įvertinti genotoksiškumo ir citotoksiškumo dėsningumus skirtingose organizmų grupėse ir jų audiniuose. Eksperimentų metu nustatyta skirtingų žaliavinės naftos, alkilfenolių, sunkiųjų metalų mišinių skirtingų koncentracijų, ekspozijos laiko bei geno-citotoksiškumo indukcijos priklausomybė. Darbe aprašyti metodai gali būti sėkmingai naudojami monitoringe kaip ankstyvieji biožymenys įvairių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aquatic ecosystems are still being polluted with crude oil and other technogenic contaminants. In order to evaluate genotoxic and cytotoxic impact of this pollutants, micronucleus test and analysis of the other nuclear abnormalities is rather frequently being used. The main objective of the study is assessment of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity effects in different fish and bivalves exposed to the crude oil and other technogenic contaminants discharged from the several oil platforms (Statfjord B, Oseberg C, Minija). Environmental genotoxicity and cytotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the frequencies of micronuclei and other nuclear abnormalities in cells of mussels and fish caged in different oil platforms (Ekofisk, Statfjord B) field zones in situ. The study results provide new information about environmental geno-cytotoxicity in oil platforms field zones. The peculiarities of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in fish and mussels after experimental treatment with crude oil from the North Sea oil platforms and Minija well in Lithuania and other technogenic contaminants (produced water, mixtures of PAHs, alkylphenols and heavy metals) were assessed. There were determined time-tissue-species-concentration-related relationships in induction of nuclear abnormalities in studied fish and mussels. The study results revealed usefulness of genotoxicity endpoints, as well as cytotoxicity endpoints for the evaluation of damage, caused by the contamination discharged from the marine oil... [to full text]

This thesis on water and social activism in Canada is a journey into the realm of shared social understanding. Water is too precious to all forms of life to simply permit commodification for the benefit of a few at the expense of the many. The Sun Belt case adjudicated under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) when compared with what prevailed under previous Canadian national law reveals severe limits to state sovereignty. A high measure of support has already been manifest around concerns and considerations which pertain to water and the potential for the growth of social activism with reference to water may well be unprecedented in Canada. There are fundamental inequalities found within the Sun Belt case. Current international trade policy coupled with private banking practices does not value the principles of sustainability, equality and justice because it is committed to the commodification of the “commons”. This thesis uses a variety of sources to oppose the present discourses followed by governments according to the doctrines found in the study of classical economics within a capitalist context.