Trade in Asbestos: Really?

Freer trade is almost always a good thing. Almost. The biggest exceptions to this rule are weapons, narcotics, dangerous chemicals and, uh, people. Most people would agree that restrictions on trade in such things is a good idea. But apparently "most people" doesn't include Canadian lawmakers, who have been lobbying hard to prevent white asbestos from being added to the Rotterdam Convention's list of toxic substances. With success.

The Economist has provided an excellent backgrounder on the issue, but the basics are simple: the World Health Organization thinks white asbestos is potentially dangerous and wishes to add it to this list; the substance has been banned by 40 countries; alternatives to white asbestos exist; the industry employs less than a thousand workers in Canada and brings in less than $200 million in revenue; Canada is the third largest miner of asbestos, and exports over 90% of its asbestos to other (mostly developing) countries. Moreover, the health risks of white asbestos are highest for those who mine it - so who exactly is this benefiting?

It is not clear to me where the upside is, and Canada's blatant hypocrisy on this issue undermines its position on the world stage. It is time to move on from this shameful practice.