Non-Tariff Measures as environmental governance instruments for international trade : Insights from sustainable fisheries

Abstract

International trade involves socioeconomic and ecological interactions, but these dimensions are often examined separately. As a result, the environmental impacts of international trade – such as biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and pollution – persist without effective governance, driven by actors whose activities have far-reaching consequences on distant ecosystems. This study presents international trade as a telecoupled social-ecological system and introduces Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) as an environmental governance instrument, aiming at guiding international trade toward more environmentally sustainable outcomes. We examine the impact of NTMs related to environmentally sustainable fisheries on trade among countries with different environmental performance levels in the fisheries sector. Results suggest that NTMs can effectively limit fisheries trade that poses significant environmental harm, while simultaneously supporting exporting countries in their efforts to improve sustainability of their fisheries sectors. This approach helps prevent the redirection of exports associated to environmentally unsustainable practices toward unregulated markets and shows that NTMs can foster more balanced and environmentally responsible relations in international trade.