The trade-sustainability nexus: the evolution of the European Commission’s trade and sustainable development discourse from 1993 to 2022

Caroline Bertram*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

4 Citationer (Scopus)
2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the European Commission’s trade andsustainable development discourse from 1993 to 2022. By employing a discursiveinstitutionalist framework and examining a comprehensive corpus of over 1,400press documents, this study traces the discursive process that has created bothsignificant changes to, and persistent elements in, the Commission’strade-sustainability agenda. The analysis reveals noteworthy shifts within thediscourse, notably a transition from a primary concern with labour and humanrights during the 1990s to an increased focus on economic developmentand poverty reduction in the early 2000s. This was followed by a discerniblemove towards more stringent differentiation among developing countries andan amplified emphasis on reciprocity. In recent years, we are witnessing astrong focus on environmental and climate protection, labour rights, andenforceability. Thefindings underscore the enduring presence of trade-sustainability ideas within EU trade policy and their gradual evolution overtime, while contributing to the literature on the role of ideas in shaping theUnion’sexternalpolicies.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of European Public Policy
Vol/bind30
Udgave nummer10
Sider (fra-til)2097-2122
ISSN1350-1763
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2023

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
I want to thank Gabriel Siles-Brügge, Jan Orbie, Anders Wivel, Jens Ladefoged Mortensen, Ben Rosamond, Alasdair Young, Ferdi De Ville, Evgeny Postnikov, Martin Bæk Carstensen, Ana Campera Soares, Christoffer Hentzer Dausgaard, Lorna Wildgaard, Peter Nedergaard, the special issue editor and the two anonymous reviewers for their excellent suggestions and input.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Emneord

  • EU
  • discourse
  • sustainable development
  • trade policy

Citationsformater