US Industries Press for ‘Green’ Trade Accord

Christian Science Monitor (8/5, LaFranchi) – With interest in green technologies booming globally, a group of US industries and trade organizations is pressing the Obama administration to seek an international agreement specifically liberalizing trade in environmental goods and services. The United States and the European Union are on record since 2007 supporting inclusion of an environmental chapter in the eight-year-old Doha Round of international trade negotiations.

“Promoting an EGSA [environmental goods and services agreement] would permit the US – both the [White House] and Congress – to demonstrate leadership,” says Jeremy Preiss, vice president and chief international trade counsel for United Technologies Corp., and part of the trade group that sent a letter to President Obama last week encouraging US action on a green accord. “Not only would it increase trade in environmental goods,” he adds, “but it would further the avowed Obama administration objective of addressing climate change and building the green economy.”