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Protecting Human Rights in the Context of Free Trade? The Case of the SADC G roup E conomic P artnership A greement
Author(s) -
Gammage Clair
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european law journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.351
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1468-0386
pISSN - 1351-5993
DOI - 10.1111/eulj.12105
Subject(s) - human rights , context (archaeology) , interim , conditionality , international trade , law and economics , political science , economics , law , politics , paleontology , biology
As free trade agreements proliferate, the relationship between trade and human rights continues to attract attention across academic disciplines. The linkages between human rights and liberal trade rules have been the subject of debate for some time. Since most countries tend to afford constitutional protection to both human rights and freedom of trade, there appears to be an inescapable connection between the two regimes. In theory, at least, economic growth should improve human rights standards and conditionality can be one way through which human rights compliance is achieved. However, in practice, States often pursue economic objectives that conflict with their human rights obligations. This article explores the linkages and potential conflicts between human rights and trade in the context of regional trade agreements, with a focus on the interim E conomic P artnership A greement between the E uropean U nion and the S outhern A frican D evelopment C ommunity G roup.