El medio ambiente en la minería

EL MEDIO AMBIENTE EN LA MINERIA 44 attention has been given to the positive role which Olining plays in advancing social and econontic progress, especially in developing countries. At presento Olany developing countries give priority to the development of their mineral resources. Until recently, environmental regulations designed specifically for mining and refining have nol been common in most developing countries. With the rapid liberalization of the economies in many of these countries there is growing concem about environmental degradation. Ques– tioos arise: what environmental policies should be adopted in order to en– courage foreign investment and credits? What impact will more stringent environmental policies have on costs and competitiveness? And what under these circumstances will be the future development of intemational trade? Intemational trade in ores, ntineraIs and metaIs is considerable. In 1990world trade in ores, mineraIs and non-ferrous metals, valued at US$ 124 billion. In 1989, ex:ports of those commodities represented 3.5 per cent of total world trade and 13.5 per cent of world exports of primary products. The share of exports accounted for by developing countries was more than one third. 10 my previous GATI position I was responsible for the work of the Working Partyon Intemational Trade inNatural Resource-Based·Products. In addition to fisheries and forestry, this Workiog Party aIso dealt with problems of trade in metaIs and minerals. TheWorkingParty identifiedmany tariffand non-tariff measures which hamper intemational trade, me3Sures such as tariffs, tariff escalation (which meaos increased tariffs on the processcd products), import and export restrictioos and charges, the use of subsidies and other fiscal incentives. the use of dumping and countervailing duties, hea1th and phyto– sanitary regulations, technical standards and other requirements. The necessity to further liberalize intemational trade in natural resource– based products was recognized at 1986 Punta del E~te Conference launching the Uruguay Round, by specificalIy including these products in the forthcom– ing negotiations. In doing this the Ministers recognized the importance of trade in natural resource-based products for developing countries. The question which is asked frequently is whether trade and trade h'beraliza– tion can contribute lo a better environment k you know, views regarding the impact of international trade on environmental quality differ. While sorne consider lhat trade expansion is a source of increased wealth and technology diffusion, lhus enhancing society's ability to protect and improve the environ– ment, others argue lhat unrestricled trade can be harrnful to the environment, especialIy when a country's environmental policies are weak or non-existent. GATI in a recently published study on trade and the environment recognizes that liberalization is likely to reduce some protectionist barners which are eocouraging environmentally harroful activities or could worsen particular