First Name:
Caitlin
Last Name:
Stepp
Major Department:
Government and Justice
Thesis Director:
Tatyana Ruseva
Date of Thesis:
May 2012
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is the first regional free trade agreement to incorporate extensive provisions for environmental protection. While increasing trade is undoubtedly the most important aspect of the agreement, environmental considerations and sustainable development are also important and worthy of pursuit at a regional, cooperative level through the creation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). Both of these agreements have considerable implications for current and future trade liberalization efforts as they serve as a model for regional and international treaty negotiations. This thesis explores the effectiveness of the NAFTA environmental regime by analyzing the goals and operations of the regime, as well as potential sources of conflict and controversy.