| WTO, as the most important multi-lateral trade organization, was established for eliminating international trade barriers and promoting free-trade. Since 1980s, environmental protection has drawn much attention from human societies. As of now, the environmental protection will continue to affect present and future life of human in a more all-around and deeper way. This article, from the legal perspective, intends to analyse the relationship of free-trade tendency and environmental protection which have become two important tendencies nowadays. Also, this article points out that the previously mentioned tendencies must finally blend with each other through proper adjustment.This article will analyze the environmental article under the WTO system of law, especially the Article 20 of the GATT1994. In order to get better understanding of the application of the Article 20, I will discuss the dispute settlement of the past.Except the consequences of more and more global environmental problems and previously indifferent attitude of multi-lateral trade system on environmental issues, the most fundamental reason for the continuous happening of trade versus environment disputes is the imbalance on economic development of the developing countries and the developed countries. The developing countries are not only confronted by pressures from developing their economies and protecting the environment, but also faced with new trade protectionism from the developed countries which have taken advantages of environment articles in business contracts. The developing countries are getting too busy dealing with those problems. At last, the author, from the perspective of developing countries and the special condition in China, analyses the dilemmas in detail. And according to the previous analysis on trade and environment issues and understandings of today's laws and regulations, the article tries to make relevant solutions for the governments, especially ours, as references. |
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