Freedom to trade protects the environment - briefing paper

For years environmental groups have promoted the view that trade is bad for the environment. They argue that businesses want free trade so that they can escape regulations, and that trade leads to a “race to the bottom” for environmental standards. According to this view, corporations are causing poverty and environmental degradation. They want consumers in wealthy countries to feel guilty for consuming goods which were produced by people in developing countries. Such myths must be put to rest.