China has been involved in the process of globalization since 1979 through a comprehensive liberalization of its foreign trade and investment regimes. Especially after becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, CO2 emissions in China have increased. China's economy is growing very fast, which is the main cause of China's air pollution. Seven out of twenty of the world's worst air pollution cities are located in China, including Beijing. Due to this heavy air pollution, China ranks 120th among 180 countries by 2020, according to the Environmental Performance Index. Trade liberalization and increased openness are seen as a means of promoting economic growth for developing countries. However, most studies have revealed that trade liberalization has negative impacts on the environment. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine how trade liberalization affects the environment in China by examining the literature on the trade-environment debate. The findings indicate that trade liberalization leads to economic development but has had negative impacts on the environment in China.
Key words: Keywords: Trade Liberalization, Environment, WTO, China. Jel Codes: F18, F64. Article Language: EnglishTurkish
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