Advice to Council 98-08 — Article 10(6) of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation
DISTRIBUTION: General
J/98-08/ADV
ORIGINAL: English
Article 10(6) of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation
Article 10(6) of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) establishes a process for cooperation between the Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Free Trade Commission (FTC);
The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) has, in the past, recommended to Council that it engage this process as a means of creating the mechanism for institutional cooperation contemplated in the NAAEC designed to ensure that environmental considerations are taken into account when resolving trade disputes;
The 17 September 1998 letter from the Sierra Club, et al concerning the Notice of Intent to Submit a Claim to Arbitration by S.D Myers, has created a further opportunity for the CEC and the FTC to develop a constructive dialogue where the objectives of both the NAAEC and NAFTA can be strengthened and mutually reinforced;
The 4 December 1998 meeting between trade and environment officials representing the Parties to NAFTA and the NAEEC is an important first step in building an on-going mechanism for institutional cooperation between the CEC and the FTC. JPAC encourages Council to follow up this important initiative with an early meeting of trade and environment ministers; and
JPAC urges that Council actively promote the implementation of Article 10(6) in a manner which supports and reinforces the objectives and spirit of the NAAEC to protect the environment, natural resources and the health of human populations.