Sustainable Trade and the WTO: The Compliance Dilemma

Ethan Biji — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0300

International trade, often prioritizing competitiveness, clashes with the need for climate action, particularly impacting developing countries reliant on trade. This paper examines the "compliance dilemma" - the struggle to implement climate-mitigating policies without harming these economies. While the WTO aims to incorporate sustainable development, the paper argues that current provisions within the WTO and GATT Agreements are insufficient and often lead to negative economic consequences for developing nations. For example, the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), designed to reduce emissions, could harm exports from developing countries. The paper proposes establishing a WTO International Law Compliance Commission (WILCC) to align WTO rules with international law, address exploitable loopholes in trade agreements, and harmonize trade and environmental policies in collaboration with the UNFCCC. This framework seeks to ensure trade supports both climate action and sustainable economic growth for all stakeholders.

Retail Investor Protection in the Age of Digital Trading: Regulatory Challenges and Solutions

Nizomiddin Kozimov — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0300

The research analyzes the regulatory challenges posed by these platforms and to develop effective solutions. The study examines existing regulatory frameworks, such as the Dodd-Frank Act, MiFID II, and the Commodity Exchange Act, as well as market data on trading behaviors and feedback from retail investors and regulatory bodies. Key findings include the identification of significant regulatory gaps, particularly in the areas of anti- money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, and the lack of clarity in the classification of digital assets as securities or commodities. The significance of these findings lies in their implications for enhancing investor protection and market stability. The broader implications suggest that a more integrated and technology-driven regulatory framework could enhance transparency, prevent market manipulations, and ensure a level playing field for all market participants. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on digital asset regulation to safeguard retail investors in the digital trading era.

International Journal of Law and Policy

Sustainable Trade and the WTO: The Compliance Dilemma

Retail Investor Protection in the Age of Digital Trading: Regulatory Challenges and Solutions