The Impact of International Trade and Environmental Agreements on National Environmental Law and Regulation

Abstract This study examines the influence of international trade and environmental agreements on national environmental legislation in China, Japan, and South Korea. Employing time-series analysis and Granger causality tests, it investigates how free trade agreements ( FTA s) with environmental provisions and international environmental agreements ( IEA s) shape domestic regulatory frameworks. Key findings reveal that while IEA s often have limited immediate impacts on national legislation, their delayed effects are evident in countries like South Korea. Conversely, FTA s with robust environmental provisions demonstrate both direct and sustained correlations with domestic legal reforms across all three nations. The study also highlights the interplay between trade liberalization and environmental governance, with mixed results emphasizing the role of national context. Japan exhibits a bidirectional relationship between trade-environment indices and legislative action, while China and South Korea show varied responsiveness to international pressures.