Hasil untuk "Balance of trade"

Rakshaa Munirathinam, Stanislav Vitek

Urban sound classification has become a critical enabling technology for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, smart cities, and environmental monitoring systems. Despite advances in deep learning, deploying these models on resource-constrained microcontroller units (MCUs) poses significant challenges in achieving a balance between classification accuracy, computational efficiency, and energy consumption. This study introduces the first comprehensive and systematic analysis of hybrid CNN-GRU architectures optimized for embedded audio processing. Thirteen distinct layer ratio configurations were evaluated under varying temporal chunk sizes across three representative MCU platforms. Experiments conducted on the UrbanSound8K dataset reveal that CNN-heavy configurations achieve optimal performance for ultra-short duration processing, reaching 93.92% accuracy at 0.0625 seconds, while balanced architectures deliver the best trade-offs for medium-duration segments. On the ESC-50 dataset involving two different chunks, the experiments reveal mostly similar performance trends. With both datasets, the performance of the models peaks at about 3-seconds chunks. The study identifies eight critical application scenarios across safety, healthcare, industrial, and smart environment domains, establishing optimized architecture-platform combinations for each use case. Deployment results demonstrate that CNN-heavy models achieve more than 93% accuracy with sub-20ms inference times for ultra-short segments, enabling real-time tasks such as emergency vehicle and glass break detection. The proposed framework provides a quantitative foundation for selecting the most suitable architecture–platform pairings under specific application constraints, effectively bridging the gap between academic research and practical embedded audio classification systems.

Yao Yao, Yuanyuan Yang

Abstract Effective landscape management is vital for maximizing the availability of ecosystem service functions (ESF). However, how landscape pattern simultaneously affects multiple ESF across time and space, specifically regarding changes in their relationships, has not been comprehensively evaluated. Accordingly, the current study examines the dynamic impact of landscape pattern on the interactions among ES trade-offs in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 1990 to 2020. Five key ESF are evaluated: carbon sequestration (CS), food supply (FS), habitat quality (HQ), water retention (WR), and soil conservation (SC). The geographical and temporal weighted regression model is adopted to analyze how these relationships are influenced by changes in the landscape pattern over 30 years. Over the past three decades, the overall amounts of FS, WR, and SC have increased, with only WR exhibiting a sustained increasing trend, while CS and HQ have significantly decreased. The trade-off coordination effects among the ESF generally transitioned from trade-offs to synergies, with the CS–FS change more pronounced, shifting from weak trade-offs (− 0.29) to synergies (0.20). Significant spatial variations were also observed. Most landscape pattern significantly impact the relationships among ESF. Specifically, landscape composition has a stronger influence on ecosystems than configuration; however, these effects are diverse and often inconsistent, requiring decision-makers to continuously balance landscape management. The impacts of landscape pattern on the relationships between SC and other ESF (CS–SC, HQ–SC, HQ–SC, and WR–SC) were consistent, with the most prominent impact on CS–SC. This suggests that landscape pattern exerts a comparatively steady impact on CS, benefiting from the contributions of decision-makers to soil conservation in regional land parcels. These results underscore the intricate responses of inter-ecosystem relationships to landscape pattern and the need for dynamic trade-offs in landscape management. Cumulatively, this study provides crucial guidance for policymakers in designing effective landscape management policies to mitigate ecological degradation.

Agustianto Agustianto, Lu Sudirman, Marthalia Setiawan

This research aims to explore and analyze the regulations and implementation of the Free Trade Zone (FTZ) policy in the context of improving the economy in Batam City, Indonesia. This research uses non-doctrinal or empirical research. The applied problem approach involves three main approaches: a statutory approach, a conceptual approach, and a sociological or empirical approach. The data analysis technique used is qualitative analysis with a deductive data presentation pattern. Researchers will explore the regulations related to FTZs in Batam City and analyze the economic implications of these policies. Research findings show that in 2022 after the publication of PP No. 41 of 2021 has had an impact on improving the economy in Batam, including increasing export and import transactions so that Batam City's trade balance recorded a surplus of USD 2,262.24 million. Increase in the number of industrial and investment areas. It is hoped that the analysis of these findings will provide better insight into the contribution of FTZ policies to economic development at the local level

Kai Tang, Toshihiro Osaragi

Deciding the locations of shelters and how to assign evacuees to these locations is crucial for effective disaster management. However, the inherent uncertainty in evacuation demand makes it challenging to make optimal decisions. Traditional stochastic or robust optimization models tend to be either too aggressive or overly conservative, failing to strike a balance between risk reduction and cost. In response to these challenges, this research proposes a multi-objective distributionally robust optimization (MODRO) model tailored for shelter location and evacuation allocation. First, an ambiguity set (moment-based or distance-based) is constructed to capture the uncertainty in evacuation demand, reflecting the possible range of outcomes based on demand data from a disaster simulation model. Then, the distributionally robust optimization model considers the “worst-case” distribution within this ambiguity set to minimize construction cost, travel distance, and unmet demand/unused capacity, balancing the trade-off between overly conservative and overly optimistic approaches. The model aims to ensure that shelters are optimally located and evacuees are efficiently allocated, even under the most challenging scenarios. Furthermore, Pareto optimal solutions are obtained using the augmented ε-constraint method. Finally, a case study of Ogu, a wooden density built-up area in Tokyo, Japan, compares the DRO model with stochastic and robust optimization models, demonstrating that the cost obtained by the DRO model is higher than a stochastic model while lower than the worst-case robust model, indicating a more balanced approach to managing uncertainty. This research provides a practical and effective framework for improving disaster preparedness and response, contributing to the resilience and safety of urban populations in earthquake-prone areas.

Edgar R. Dulce Villarreal, Jose Garcia-Alonso, Enrique Moguel et al.

In recent years it has been shown that the secure exchange of medical information significantly benefits people’s life quality, improving their care and treatment. The interoperability of the entire healthcare ecosystem is a constant challenge, and even more, with all the risks posed to the security of healthcare information. Blockchain technology is emerging as one of the main alternatives when it comes to finding a balance in the healthcare ecosystem. However, the constant development of new Blockchain technologies and the evolution of healthcare systems make it difficult to find established proposals. From an architectural point of view, the design of blockchain-based solutions requires trade-offs e.g., security and interoperability. This paper focuses on two main objectives, in the first one, it was carried out a Systematic Literature Review for exploring architectural mechanisms used to support the interoperability and security of Blockchain-based Health Management Systems. Taking into account of results, a series of scenarios were generated where these mechanisms can be used along with their context, issues, and various architectural concerns (interoperability and security). In the second objective, a high-level architecture and its validation were proposed through an experiment for the whole process of developing a Domain Specific Language, using the Model Driven Engineering methodology for specific Smart Contracts.

Yi Zhou, Minghua Hu, Lei Yang et al.

Abstract To accommodate growing air traffic demand, the traffic complexity management plays a crucial role in the capacity improvement of future automated air traffic management. In this paper, an autonomous and collaborative trajectory planning (ACTP) method is presented to facilitate collaborative decision‐making and enhance flexibility of the traffic complexity management in the en route airspace. A nonlinear integer model is formulated for the conflict‐free autonomous trajectory planning by reorganizing the trajectories with the combination of speed adjustment, lateral rerouting and flight level allocation maneuvers. Within the framework of the air‐ground situation awareness sharing, the spatio‐temporal reachable space is defined to describe the feasible solution space under the constraints of aircraft performance and required time of arrival. In addition, both the system‐level and the individual‐level objectives, traffic complexity and flight efficiency, are considered in the model, which are measured through the metric based on linear dynamical systems and the deviation from the user‐preferred trajectory. To balance the optimality and computational efficiency in the multi‐aircraft trajectory planning, a multi‐aircraft clustered and collaborative optimization algorithm is proposed based on the hybrid distributed‐centralized control strategy. The experimental results of the scenario in Western China airspace is presented, which verify the effectiveness of the proposed ACTP method through the comparison of other methods. Furthermore, a multi‐criteria decision‐making problem is discussed to strike a better trade‐off between different objectives in the trajectory planning.

Agatha POPESCU

The paper analyzed the importance of production and import in food availabilities in Romania in the period 2015- 2020,using the data provided by National Institute of Statistics. the following indicators were studied: total consumption, consumption per inhabitant, production, production/consumption rate, import, import/consumption rate, export, trade balance, import/export ratio, food availabilities, production share and import share in food availabilities, self-sufficiency rate. Dynamic analysis, mean, growth rate in 2020 versus 2015, comparisons were the main tools used for data processing. The results showed that consumption increased for fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and declined for potatoes, cereals, sugar and eggs, as consumers are more oriented to a healthier diet. Production increased for fruits (26.7% ), meat( 3.3%), potatoes (2.8%), but it declined for sugar (-65%), eggs (- 17%), milk (-5%), fish (-5%), and vegetables (-2.7%). In 2020 vs.2015, production covered consumption of cereals, potatoes, fruits, eggs and milk, but not for meat and fish. Imports increased for all the products, the growth rates varying between 136.7% for sugar and 17% for fish and cereals. The coverage rate of consumption by import was 101% for cereals, 97% for sugar, 91% for fish, 64% for fruits, 39% for meat, 38% for fats, 29% for potatoes, 23% for milk, 17% for vegetables and 10% for eggs. Agro-food export increased for all the products, but with a lower rate than import, resulting a negative trade balance, cereals and honey being excepted. Import/export ratio was the smallest for cereals (0.34), but high for the other products (21.5 for potatoes, 13.7 for fish, 12 for fruits, 10.1 for vegetables, 4 for milk, 3.8 for sugar, and 3.6 for meat). Self-sufficiency rate was over 100% for cereals and honey, and below 100% for all the other products, the lowest level being for fish and sugar. The share of import in food availabilities was 91% for fish, 89% for sugar, 39% for meat, 35.9% for fruits, 32.4% for cereals, 30% for fats, 20.7% for vegetables, 18.4% for milk, 17.6% for potatoes, and 8.1 % for eggs. As a conclusion, the high share of imports is a result of the incapacity of agricultural production to cover market needs for all the product categories. Farmers have to increase productivity, product quality, to join in associative forms, and create short supply food chains to sell their products. Imports are justified mainly in cases where production is not sufficient to cover the internal market.

Ali Fathy, Haytham Sanad, Emad Etman

Duration, cost, and resources are defined as constraints in projects. Consequently, Construction manager needs to balance between theses constraints to ensure that project objectives are met. Choosing the best alternative of each activity is one of the most significant problems in construction management to minimize project duration, project cost and also satisfies resources constraints as well as smoothing resources. Advanced computer technologies could empower construction engineers and project managers to make right, fast and applicable decisions based on accurate data that can be studied, optimized, and quantified with great accuracy. This article strives to find the recent improvements of resource-scheduling problems and time-cost trade off and the interacting between them which can be used in innovating new approaches in construction management. To achieve this goal, a state-of-the-art review, is conducted as a literature sample including articles implying three areas of research; time-cost trade off, constrained resources and unconstrained resources. A content analysis is made to clarify contributions and gaps of knowledge to help suggesting and specifying opportunities for future research.

Alisa S. Mahdich, Serhii Kuzminov

The article examines the impact of structural changes in trade flows of leading countries on the state of the global economy, trends in its qualitative changes, and the consequences of this process. The analysis of the works of domestic and foreign scientists on this issue gives understanding of the lack of research on certain elements and factors that affect the dynamics of processes occurring in modern trade against the background of global economic events and shifts, such as Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, Russian aggression against Ukraine, etc. Therefore, to understand the general trends in the development of international trade and the world economy as a whole, special attention should be paid to the study of changes occurring in the foreign trade of key players, the leaders of global trade. An analysis of the aggregated geographic structure of world trade shows a clear separation of three regions where the centers of export and import of goods are concentrated: Asia, Europe, and North America. Three other large regions (Africa, South and Central America, Australia and New Zealand) cannot have a significant impact on the overall situation, as their combined share in world trade is only about 7.5%. The last six years have seen continuing trends of changes in the group of leaders, which are connected with the further redistribution of world markets, continue. But, if North America did not manage to achieve a positive trade balance, even during the tough foreign trade policy of D. Trump, Europe and Asia, however, maintained an excess of exports over imports, although imports grew more dynamically. Five leading countries have been identified by the indicator of total turnover in 2021. These five include China, the US, the Netherlands and Japan. They represent the three centers of world trade. Their total share in world exports is 37.4%, and in world imports - 38.0%. This gives reason to hypothesize that the general state and structure of world trade largely depend on the activities of these countries. Examining the changes that have taken place in the product structure of exports, it is possible to highlight several trends that are common to all leading countries. First of all, over the last 6 years, the specific weight of fuel and mineral supplies to the world market has increased in the structure of both global exports and all leading countries’ exports. Secondly, the growth of the specific weight of exports of chemical industry products can be attributed to the general trends of both world trade and certain leading countries. Thirdly, in contrast to the previous two upward trends, the share of trade in telecommunications equipment shows an overall downward trend. To assess the degree of synchronization of the structure of world trade and foreign trade of the leading countries, the correlation coefficients of these structures have been calculated. The most closely related to the world export structure is the US export structure, and the most closely related to the world import structure is the Germany’s import structure. This not only confirms the hypothesis about the decisive influence of these leading countries on world markets, but also provides grounds for forecasting world trends based on the study of foreign trade of individual countries. Thus, the conducted analysis showed that certain changes are taking place in the aggregated geographical structure of world trade, which are associated with the rapid expansion of the specific weight of the Asian region. North America and Europe are losing their positions both in terms of the international trade turnover and in terms of its individual components

Akifumi Wachi, Yanan Sui, Yisong Yue et al.

We present a reinforcement learning approach to explore and optimize a safety-constrained Markov Decision Process(MDP). In this setting, the agent must maximize discounted cumulative reward while constraining the probability of entering unsafe states, defined using a safety function being within some tolerance. The safety values of all states are not known a priori, and we probabilistically model them via aGaussian Process (GP) prior. As such, properly behaving in such an environment requires balancing a three-way trade-off of exploring the safety function, exploring the reward function, and exploiting acquired knowledge to maximize reward. We propose a novel approach to balance this trade-off. Specifically, our approach explores unvisited states selectively; that is, it prioritizes the exploration of a state if visiting that state significantly improves the knowledge on the achievable cumulative reward. Our approach relies on a novel information gain criterion based on Gaussian Process representations of the reward and safety functions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on a range of experiments, including a simulation using the real Martian terrain data.

Serge Nyallang Nyamsi, Ivan Tolj

Two-tank metal hydride pairs have gained tremendous interest in thermal energy storage systems for concentrating solar power plants or industrial waste heat recovery. Generally, the system’s performance depends on selecting and matching the metal hydride pairs and the thermal management adopted. In this study, the 2D mathematical modeling used to investigate the heat storage system’s performance under different thermal management techniques, including active and passive heat transfer techniques, is analyzed and discussed in detail. The change in the energy storage density, the specific power output, and the energy storage efficiency is studied under different heat transfer measures applied to the two tanks. The results showed that there is a trade-off between the energy storage density and the energy storage efficiency. The adoption of active heat transfer enhancement (convective heat transfer enhancement) leads to a high energy storage density of 670 MJ m⁻³ (close to the maximum theoretical value of 755.3 MJ m⁻³). In contrast, the energy storage efficiency decreases dramatically due to the increase in the pumping power. On the other hand, passive heat transfer techniques using the bed’s thermal conductivity enhancers provide a balance between the energy storage density (578 MJ m⁻³) and the energy efficiency (74%). The utilization of phase change material as an internal heat recovery medium leads to a further reduction in the heat storage performance indicators (142 MJ m⁻³ and 49%). Nevertheless, such a system combining thermochemical and latent heat storage, if properly optimized, can be promising for thermal energy storage applications.

A. A. Shirov, M. S. Gusev

The article analyzes the current state of Russian foreign trade and its impact on the development of the economy. The main changes that occurred in the global economy during the crisis caused by the new coronavirus pandemic are considered. It is concluded that most of the trends that formed in the global economy before the crisis are likely to receive additional acceleration after its end. In this regard, additional restrictions may be imposed on traditional Russian exports. It is stated that foreign trade should become one of the key factors that ensure the stability of the Russian economy in the medium and long term. The requirements for the balance of payments and the exchange rate that ensure the stability of the macroeconomic dynamics and parameters of foreign trade are determined. Given the current trends in the parameters of the world economy and trade, it should be assumed that the structure of Russian exports will not undergo significant changes over the next 15 years. This means that for the next 15 years, the development of the export potential of the fuel and energy sector, the diversification of the geography of energy supplies, remains one of the key tasks of the foreign economic strategy. The key restrictions of the integration processes in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are evaluated.

Oleksandr Gerega

The relevance of the researching and ensuring financial and economic sustainability of trade is proved. The essential structural characteristics of financial and economic sustainability are generalized. The specifics of managing the financial and economic sustainability of trade business are indicated. The macroeconomic characteristics of financial and economic sustainability of trade in Ukraine as the volume of equity, balance currency, sales of goods of the trade enterprises, current assets, current liabilities and provision, own current assets of trade enterprises are analysed. The financial and economic sustainability of trade enterprises in Ukraine was assessed using the ratios of provision of current assets to own funds, provision of stocks with own funds, maneuverability of equity, mobility, permanent assets, financial stability and financial dependence. Purpose. The purpose of the research is to analyse the condition and development trends of macroeconomic characteristics of financial and economic sustainability of trade in Ukraine and justification proposals for public policy to stimulate its strengthening. Methodology. The following scientific methods were used during the research: analysis, synthesis and comparison – to research the prerequisites for ensuring the financial and economic sustainability of trade enterprises; statistical analysis – to calculate the key macroeconomic characteristics of financial sustainability and liquidity of trade enterprises; groupings, logical analysis, strategic management – to form priorities and means of state policy to stimulate the strengthening of financial and economic sustainability of trade business. Results. The low level of financial sustainability and liquidity of the trade sector in Ukraine has been empirically proven. It is established that a critical decrease in the financial and economic sustainability of the trade business occurred in 2014-2015. In 2012, the level of financial sustainability and liquidity of trade enterprises was the highest. Since 2016, the gradual restoration of financial and economic sustainability of trade business in Ukraine has begun. However, its level is still insufficient, which requires justification and implementation of effective measures of state regulation in this area. It is proved that strengthening the financial and economic sustainability of trade enterprises in Ukraine requires the formation and implementation of a common (state and business entities) policy aimed at strengthening the financial and economic sustainability of trade enterprises in Ukraine. The policy should be implemented in the following areas: alternative forms of the financial result formation, improvement of financial and economic attractiveness of enterprises, distribution of financial and economic risks with the manufacturing sector, realization of financial potential of domestic market by enterprises. Practical implications. The means of the state policy of stimulation and strengthening of financial and economic sustainability of the trade enterprises in Ukraine are defined. Value/originality. The methodical approach to the formation of tools and means of policy to strengthen the financial and economic sustainability of the country’s trade business has been further developed.

Marina Dohi, Akihiko Mougi

Microbes are widespread in natural ecosystems where they create complex communities. Understanding the functions and dynamics of such microbial communities is a very important theme not only for ecology but also for humankind because microbes can play major roles in our health. Yet, it remains unclear how such complex ecosystems are maintained. Here, we present a simple theory on the dynamics of a microbial community. Bacteria preferring a particular pH in their environment indirectly inhibit the growth of the other types of bacteria by changing the pH to their optimum value. This pH-driven interaction always causes a state of bistability involving different types of bacteria that can be more or less abundant. Furthermore, a moderate abundance ratio of different types of bacteria can confer enhanced resilience to a specific equilibrium state, particularly when a trade-off relationship exists between growth and the ability of bacteria to change the pH of their environment. These results suggest that the balance of the composition of microbiota plays a critical role in maintaining microbial communities.

Halyna Verbytska

<p>The article aims to study the trends of export of goods of Ukraine in conditions of European integration. The purpose is to examine the export trends of goods of Ukraine in conditions of European integration; to determine the prospects of improving the export policy of Ukraine. In the process of research the following methods were used: Economics and statistics (in the study of trends of export of goods of Ukraine in conditions of European integration); analytical and logical (in determining the directions of the export policy of the Ukrainian government). The following results are obtained: the structure and trends of exports of goods Ukraine; analyzes the current processes of European integration and the changes that have occurred in this regard in the field of international trade; the identified negative factors affecting the condition of foreign trade of Ukraine. Scientific novelty of the research is to use an integrated approach to the justification of directions of improvement of the export policy of Ukraine, the implementation of which will improve the efficiency of integration into the world economy. The results of research aimed at solving the problems of the passive trade balance of the domestic economy. They can be used in the formation of government export policy.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>Key words:</strong> export, foreign trade, export, commodity, quota.</p>

Thomas Breu, Christoph Bader, Peter Messerli et al.

This study examines the validity of the assumption that international large-scale land acquisition (LSLA) is motivated by the desire to secure control over water resources, which is commonly referred to as 'water grabbing'. This assumption was repeatedly expressed in recent years, ascribing the said motivation to the Gulf States in particular. However, it must be considered of hypothetical nature, as the few global studies conducted so far focused primarily on the effects of LSLA on host countries or on trade in virtual water. In this study, we analyse the effects of 475 intended or concluded land deals recorded in the Land Matrix database on the water balance in both host and investor countries. We also examine how these effects relate to water stress and how they contribute to global trade in virtual water. The analysis shows that implementation of the LSLAs in our sample would result in global water savings based on virtual water trade. At the level of individual LSLA host countries, however, water use intensity would increase, particularly in 15 sub-Saharan states. From an investor country perspective, the analysis reveals that countries often suspected of using LSLA to relieve pressure on their domestic water resources--such as China, India, and all Gulf States except Saudi Arabia--invest in agricultural activities abroad that are less water-intensive compared to their average domestic crop production. Conversely, large investor countries such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Japan are disproportionately externalizing crop water consumption through their international land investments. Statistical analyses also show that host countries with abundant water resources are not per se favoured targets of LSLA. Indeed, further analysis reveals that land investments originating in water-stressed countries have only a weak tendency to target areas with a smaller water risk.

Francisco Mora, Patricia Balvanera, Eduardo García-Frapolli et al.

The design of strategies aimed at sustainable resource management requires an understanding of the trade-offs between the ecosystem services at stake, to determine appropriate ways in which to navigate them. We assess trade-offs between forage production for cattle ranching and the maintenance of carbon stocks or tree diversity in a Mexican tropical dry forest. Trade-offs between pairs of services were assessed by identifying their efficiency frontiers at both site and landscape scales. We also estimated service outcomes under current and hypothetical land-management conditions. We found stark trade-offs between fodder and carbon stocks and between fodder and tree species richness at the site scale. At the landscape scale, the efficiency frontier was concave, with a much less pronounced trade-off in the fodder-species richness case. Our estimates of current service supply levels showed a reduction of 18-21% for C stock and 41-43% for fodder biomass, relative to the maximum feasible values along the efficiency frontier. Choice of the optimum management strategy to reduce such inefficiency depended on deforestation level: secondary forest regeneration was most suitable when deforestation is low, whereas increased fodder productivity in the pastures is best when deforestation is high. Pasture enrichment with forage trees and secondary forest growth are potential management alternatives for achieving sustainability given the range of enabling ecological factors and to balance ecological and social sustainability given the requirements and preferences of local stakeholders. Given that analogous trade-offs are found across the tropics, this work contributes to reconciling tropical forest maintenance and its use for sustainable rural livelihoods.

J. E. M. S. Nabel

Models used to investigate impacts of climatic changes on spatio-temporal vegetation dynamics need to balance required accuracy with computational feasibility. To enhance the computational efficiency of these models, upscaling methods are required that maintain key fine-scale processes influencing vegetation dynamics. In this paper, an adjustable method – the dynamic two-layer classification concept (D2C) – for the upscaling of time- and space-discrete models is presented. D2C aims to separate potentially repetitive calculations from those specific to single grid cells. The underlying idea is to extract processes that do not require information about a grid cell's neighbourhood to a reduced-size non-spatial layer, which is dynamically coupled to the original two-dimensional layer. The size of the non-spatial layer is thereby adaptive and depends on dynamic classifications according to pre-specified similarity criteria. <br><br> I present how D2C can be used in a model implementation on the example of TreeMig-2L, a new, efficient version of the intermediate-complexity forest-landscape model TreeMig. To discuss the trade-off between computational expenses and accuracy, as well as the applicability of D2C, I compare different model stages of TreeMig-2L via simulations of two different application scenarios. This comparison of different model stages demonstrates that applying D2C can strongly reduce computational expenses of processes calculated on the new non-spatial layer. D2C is thus a valuable upscaling method for models and applications in which processes requiring information about the neighbourhood constitute the minor share of the overall computational expenses.

Vanda Jakir

The WTO is often criticised for consistently refusing to accept the environmental measures of its Members due to their adverse impacts on international trade. The aim of this paper is to examine the recent developments in WTO law considering this clash between liberal trade and environmental protection. The analysis is based on the most recent US – Tuna II (Mexico) case, the third in the Tuna Dolphin line of case law. The paper shows that the Appellate Body still greatly favours free trade over the environment, but that some progress can still be found in the latest Tuna ruling. Notions of technical regulation, likeness, less favourable treatment, extraterritoriality and necessity are examined in light of this dispute. The paper also gives a broader perspective on the suitability of the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement to endorse environmental protection in the form of ‘green trade barriers’, as well as suggestions for a new approach that the WTO Dispute Settlement Body should take in an effort to strike a balance between protecting the environment and facilitating economic prosperity through liberal trade.

A. Bourke