The relationship between trade and material flows is examined by viewing theglobal economy from the perspective of international material-product chains(MPC). The international MPC covers the complete lifecycle of a material or aproduct in two or more regions, including extraction, production,...

The present expansion of environmental standards and regulations in industrialised countries can have significant impacts on the market access of developing countries. The fear in many developing countries is that stricter product standards in the markets of developed countries will act as trade...