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Labour Rights Protections within International Trade: A study of Free Trade Agreements and Generalised Systems of Preferences

Simpson, Fraser LU (2015) JAMM06 20151
Department of Law
Abstract
This study examines the phenomena of “social clauses” that aim to uphold labour standards within the international trade regime and discusses examples of their implementation. “Social clauses”, despite their contentious past within the World Trade Organisation and preceding frameworks, can be found in a number of Free Trade Agreements and Generalised Systems of Preferences. The study initially sets out the history of the link between trade and labour rights and the concerns of various States and academics to the inclusion of “social clauses” in the international trade regime. The study continues to principally examine the content of “social clauses” within Free Trade Agreements concluded by the United States, the European Union, and... (More)
This study examines the phenomena of “social clauses” that aim to uphold labour standards within the international trade regime and discusses examples of their implementation. “Social clauses”, despite their contentious past within the World Trade Organisation and preceding frameworks, can be found in a number of Free Trade Agreements and Generalised Systems of Preferences. The study initially sets out the history of the link between trade and labour rights and the concerns of various States and academics to the inclusion of “social clauses” in the international trade regime. The study continues to principally examine the content of “social clauses” within Free Trade Agreements concluded by the United States, the European Union, and Canada. Further, the mechanisms for implementing these obligations through various procedures are discussed. Following this, examples of implementation through utilisation of the mechanisms are provided. Additionally, the study also examines similar issues and examples in relation to the Generalised Systems of Preferences of the United States and the European Union. The study finds, in addition to the information relating to content, mechanisms for implementation, and examples of implementation of these social clauses, that although these clauses linking trade and labour proved contentious at an international level, they have been included in a number of subsequent agreements but rarely utilised in practice. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Simpson, Fraser LU
supervisor
organization
course
JAMM06 20151
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
International Trade, Free Trade Agreements, Generalised Systems of Preferences, Human Rights, Labour Rights, Social Clauses, EU, European Union, United States of America, Canada
language
English
id
7363389
date added to LUP
2015-06-17 11:08:02
date last changed
2015-06-18 14:04:28
@misc{7363389,
  abstract     = {{This study examines the phenomena of “social clauses” that aim to uphold labour standards within the international trade regime and discusses examples of their implementation. “Social clauses”, despite their contentious past within the World Trade Organisation and preceding frameworks, can be found in a number of Free Trade Agreements and Generalised Systems of Preferences. The study initially sets out the history of the link between trade and labour rights and the concerns of various States and academics to the inclusion of “social clauses” in the international trade regime. The study continues to principally examine the content of “social clauses” within Free Trade Agreements concluded by the United States, the European Union, and Canada. Further, the mechanisms for implementing these obligations through various procedures are discussed. Following this, examples of implementation through utilisation of the mechanisms are provided. Additionally, the study also examines similar issues and examples in relation to the Generalised Systems of Preferences of the United States and the European Union. The study finds, in addition to the information relating to content, mechanisms for implementation, and examples of implementation of these social clauses, that although these clauses linking trade and labour proved contentious at an international level, they have been included in a number of subsequent agreements but rarely utilised in practice.}},
  author       = {{Simpson, Fraser}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Labour Rights Protections within International Trade: A study of Free Trade Agreements and Generalised Systems of Preferences}},
  year         = {{2015}},
}