The Asean-China Free Trade Agreement and the Greater Mekong Sub-Region : A theoretical reflection on trade, resource depletion and environmental law enforcement

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the relationship between Free Trade Agreement and the Environment. To do so, the thesis uses a case study on the Asean China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) to analyse how free trade agreements can produce negative externalities on the environment. It will enquire on how free trade agreements exacerbate levels of resource depletion (in the GMS) and, how effective can international environmental law be in limiting resource depletion. By using the theoretical framework of Critical Natural Capital the dissertation analyse the relationship between the ACFTA and the GMS environment highlighting the intrinsic nature between the GMS and its Natural Capital.