The Legal Significance of Trade and Sustainability Chapters in EU Free Trade Agreements

Frank Hoffmeister; Antonia Siemer

doi:10.5771/1435-439X-2024-3-269

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- 263–264 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 263–264
- 265–268 In Erinnerung an Prof. Dr. Torsten Stein (1944–2024) Christian Calliess Christian Calliess 265–268
- 269–304 The Legal Significance of Trade and Sustainability Chapters in EU Free Trade Agreements Frank Hoffmeister, Antonia Siemer Frank Hoffmeister, Antonia Siemer 269–304
- 305–348 A Recap 30 Years after Keck: Unbridgeable Differences or Recurring Tales in EU Market Jurisprudence? Bernadette Zelger Bernadette Zelger 305–348
- 349–370 Upstream Review of intra-EU ICSID Arbitration and its Inherent Consequences Nicolaj Kuplewatzky Nicolaj Kuplewatzky 349–370
- 371–401 Gender Pay Gap: The Protection of the Right to Equal Pay under the Pay Transparency Directive Vincenzo Mignano Vincenzo Mignano 371–401
- 402–429 A Truly “Common” Commercial Policy? – A Legal Assessment of the Ban on Ukrainian Grain in the Interplay of WTO and EU Law Robert Brandts Robert Brandts 402–429
- 430–457 The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: A Fertile Ground for the Protection of the Environment? Enis Omerović, Mohammed Albakjaji, Georges Philippe Zakhour, Lejla Zilić-Čurić Enis Omerović, Mohammed Albakjaji, Georges Philippe Zakhour, Lejla Zilić-Čurić 430–457
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ZEuS Zeitschrift für Europarechtliche Studien , page 269 - 304

The Legal Significance of Trade and Sustainability Chapters in EU Free Trade Agreements

Autoren

Frank Hoffmeister Antonia Siemer

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/1435-439X-2024-3-269
- ISSN: 1435-439X
- ISSN online: 2942-3589
Abstract

The article recalls the evolution and content of Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapters in EU Free Trade Agreements. They usually contain commitments of both parties to exercise their domestic law without undermining labour and environmental standards. Moreover, parties commit to respect their international obligations in the field and create joint bodies with participation of civil society. Comparing the panel reports on South Korea (2021) and on Ukraine (2020), the authors argue that their practical effect does not depend so much on their legal status, but more on the political will to implement them. The article also tackles the question of whether a breach of TSD commitments by one party can justify trade sanctions by the other. While TSD dispute settlement provisions create a special mechanism for ordinary breaches, recourse to trade sanctions is possible under Article 60 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties in case of material breaches on core labour rights or important environmental obligations. Finally, the authors sketch the policy change of the European Commission of 2022, according to which the Paris Agreement on Climate Change should become an essential element of EU FTAs, so that also breaches of that instrument may be enforced by trade sanctions.
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