There is a real need for more solid empirical analysis that makes the link between trade and sustainable development at the national level in developing countries. The country-level case studies presented in this section will address this issue by identifying and analyzing the most important trade and sustainable development issues at the domestic level, based on three hypotheses:

1. there are exports of significant economic and political significance to the country that are vulnerable to trade measures based on environmental considerations;

2. there are potential export niches for environmentally-preferable goods and environmental services; and

3. there are opportunities for innovative policy measures that address the issues while advancing sustainable development.

IISD has compiled a distillation of the lessons learned in the first two phases of TKN research (1998 - 2004). The hard copy version of this book comes with a CD containing all the research papers produced over that period, many in both English and Spanish. More information.