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Buena vista: Social corporate responsibility provisions in regional trade agreements

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  • Monteiro, José-Antonio

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an integral part of many companies' business strategy. A detailed analysis of 579 RTAs, including 305 agreements currently in force and notified to the WTO (as of December 2020), reveals that a limited but increasing number of RTAs, namely 65 agreements, refer explicitly to CSR. These CSR-related provisions are particularly heterogeneous in terms of location in the RTA, language, scope and commitments. An increasing number of RTAs incorporate an article dedicated to CSR in different chapters, including on investment, labour or environment. Most CSR-related provisions are formulated in best endeavour language. These provisions promote the voluntary adoption and respect of CSR, including internationally recognized CSR principles standards and guidelines. Building on provisions included in some bilateral investment treaties (BITs), only a couple of recent RTAs have expanded the scope of CSR-related provisions by requiring investors to make their best efforts to comply with some of the principles established under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Suggested Citation

  • Monteiro, José-Antonio, 2021. "Buena vista: Social corporate responsibility provisions in regional trade agreements," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2021-11, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:wtowps:ersd202111
    DOI: 10.30875/26222a15-en
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roland Bénabou & Jean Tirole, 2010. "Individual and Corporate Social Responsibility," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 77(305), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Monteiro, José-Antonio, 2021. "The evolution of gender-related provisions in regional trade agreements," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2021-8, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    3. Monteiro, José-Antonio, 2018. "Gender-related provisions in regional trade agreements," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2018-15, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    4. Besley, Timothy & Ghatak, Maitreesh, 2007. "Retailing public goods: The economics of corporate social responsibility," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(9), pages 1645-1663, September.
    5. Newman, Carol & Rand, John & Tarp, Finn & Trifkovic, Neda, 2018. "The transmission of socially responsible behaviour through international trade," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 250-267.
    6. Peels, Rafael. & Echeverria Manrique, Elizabeth. & Aissi, Jonas. & Schneider, Anselm., 2016. "Corporate social responsibility in international trade and investment agreements implications for states, business and workers," ILO Working Papers 994949191002676, International Labour Organization.
    7. Markus Kitzmueller & Jay Shimshack, 2012. "Economic Perspectives on Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 50(1), pages 51-84, March.
    8. Monteiro, José-Antonio, 2016. "Typology of environment-related provisions in regional trade agreements," WTO Staff Working Papers ERSD-2016-13, World Trade Organization (WTO), Economic Research and Statistics Division.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Regional Trade Agreements; Corporate social responsibility; Labour; Environment; Inclusiveness;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations
    • F15 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Economic Integration

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