The Trade-Labour Linkage from the Eyes of the Developing Countries: A Euphemism for Protectionist Practices?

Abstract

This article assesses the perception of the European Union’s trade-labour linkage policy by the developing countries at the bilateral level. While the normative foci of the policy are on human rights, social justice and regulation, it is uncertain whether the developing countries view the linkage in those terms. Drawing on a constructivist theoretical background, the developing countries’ perceptions are assessed, taking into account the discussions that, at the multilateral level, have preceded the European Union’s incorporation of labour-oriented provisions to preferential trade agreements. These discussions, which mainly took place during the WTO Ministerial Meetings, featured a strong polarization between linkage advocates and detractors. The possibility that the discussion has spilled over from the multilateral into the bilateral field is explored by analyzing the positions of Brazil, Chile, India and South Africa towards the linkage in their bilateral relations with the European Union