Abstract
This paper investigates the effectiveness of U.S. regional trade agreements (RTAs) with enforceable environmental provisions in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the agricultural sector in developing countries. Through a mixed-methods approach combining a difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis with in-depth case studies of the USMCA, CAFTA-DR, and the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, the study assesses changes in key agricultural emissions like methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O). The findings indicate that RTAs with legally binding and enforceable environmental clauses can lead to statistically significant reductions in agricultural GHG emissions. However, this success is highly contingent on specific conditions: the provisions must be precise and en-forceable through dispute settlement mechanisms; the partner country must possess strong domestic institutional capacity for implementation; and the agreements should be complemented by technical assistance and financial support, such as from agencies like USAID. The research concludes that while well-designed and enforceable environmental provisions in trade agreements are a potent tool for aligning economic integration with climate goals, they are not a silver bullet and require a supportive institutional and policy environment to be effective.
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How to cite this paper
Trade as a Climate Lever: Evaluating the Effectiveness of U.S. RTAs in Reducing Agricultural GHG Emissions
How to cite this paper: Guanxian Zhu. (2025) Trade as a Climate Lever: Evaluating the Effectiveness of U.S. RTAs in Reducing Agricultural GHG Emissions. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 9(3), 218-224.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2025.09.009