Trade and the environment : a case study of the South African iron and steel industry

The aim of this dissertation is to analyse the trade and sustainable linkages in industry, using the South African iron and steel industry as a case study. That particular sector has been chosen because of its importance to the South African economy, and its vulnerability to trade measures. The case study outlines the economic profile of the industry, trade profiles and the structure of trade policies within the sector. International trade agreements affecting the iron and steel industry, and their structures in terms of creating incentives or disincentives for exports or imports, are discussed. An overview is presented of the environmental profile within which the sector is currently operating. The study gives consideration to environmental impacts generated within this sector as a result of its production activities, and outlines abatement measures for individual companies, as well as for government. Different public and private abatement instruments are described, and the level of South African environmental standards is compared with international standards. Scenarios are explored to assess the potential implications of 'green' trade barriers and harmonisation of environmental standards for the iron and steel industry. The last section of the document addresses the possible impacts of international trade and environmental agreements on sectoral behaviour. The impacts of regulation on the competitive advantage of the sector, employment and choice of geographical location are presented. Further, some of the main driving forces of environmental reform are explored, and the extent to which trade and sustainability issues have been addressed in terms of policy and regulations is discussed.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

School of Economics

Year dc:date.issued

1999

Author dc:creator

• Visser, Martine

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9871

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9871