Environmental provisions and the greening of trade? Conditions for the effectiveness of EU trade policy in protecting biodiversity

The synergy of the EU trade policy and environmental policy is critical for the long-term growth strategy and welfare model of the EU, as set out in the European Green Deal. Whereas free trade agreements continue to be the main EU external trade tool, the effectiveness of environmental provisions remain debated: Why do environmental provisions in EU trade agreements lead to policy change of some trading partners but not of others? Zooming into the field of biodiversity, this study investigates the conditions of effectiveness of EU environmental provisions in trade agreements since 2006. Based on insights of the Trade and Environment Database TREND, the study integrates concepts of environmental and external effectiveness. The findings of a Qualitative Comparative Analysis show in how far integration into global value chains, adaptation costs, and other trading partner features condition the biodiversity effectiveness of EU environmental provisions. In contrast to the increasing trend of standardization in environmental provisions in EU environmental provisions, this study indicate that environmental effectiveness depends on trading partner features and the capacity of environmental provisions to adapt. Further, it shed lights on the conditions of environmental liberalism to be effective in trade policy.