WTO, NAFTA and Energy Charter
by Yulia Selivanova
To what extent should cross-border energy trade be
regulated? Given the irreducible political and strategic component of energy
production, transportation, distribution and use, is a truly effective
international agreement possible or even desirable? These questions loom ever
larger in considerations of the global economy. Despite clear interdependence,
as things stand the interests of consuming and producing countries differ
significantly, and this makes the negotiation of internationally binding rules
covering energy very difficult. Starting from the premise that a multilateral
legal framework is the surest way to achieve predictability and transparency
under conditions of increasing reliance on internationally traded energy, the
essays gathered in this book treat the many complex interlocking issues raised
by examining that desideratum in the light of current reality. Concentrating on
the application of WTO agreements to energy trade--as well as energy-related
issues addressed in the current WTO negotiations--the authors offer in-depth
discussion and analysis of such issues as the following:
the effectiveness of existing WTO agreements in
addressing issues pertinent to energy trade
how restrictive practices of energy endowed countries
can be tackled under existing international trade rules;
existing frameworks for investment in highly
capital-intensive energy infrastructure projects; and conditions for access to
pipelines and transmission grids;
regulation of energy services;
bioenergy development and trade;
energy issues addressed in the WTO accession
negotiations of energy endowed countries;
international instruments of resolution of
energy-related disputes.