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Why did some developing countries oppose trade sanctions tied to environmental and labour standards?
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World Trade Organization
Workers sewing clothing in a garment factory in Ho Chi Minh City in April, 2025.
Some developing countries opposed the implementation of trade sanctions tied to environmental and labour standards because they viewed such measures as a form of veiled protectionism.12
These nations argued that strict standards imposed by wealthier countries could be used to unfairly restrict their access to international markets, effectively shielding developed economies from competition under the guise of promoting social or environmental welfare. While critics of the World Trade Organization often cite concerns regarding the exploitation of labour and environmental degradation, developing countries remained wary that these regulations would undermine their economic development and sovereignty.123