2.X.1. PechaKucha: How can health become an explicit aspect of trade? A cross-disciplinary discussion
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background Trade and investment agreements impact public health in complex ways. In addition, trade and health operate in different moral spaces. We suggest an ethical framework to aid diverse actors in the eventual development of trade and investment agreements that minimize negative impacts on health. Starting from principlism, we have drafted an initial framework for population health values in trade agreements. The framework seeks to bridge public health thinking and trade. It proposes four domains of inquiry around health in trade agreements: minimization of health inequities, promotion and protection of population health and well-being, solidarity and mutualism, and non-domination. In doing so, the framework seeks to address questions of power asymmetries, intersectionality, and the redistribution of resources often overlooked by non-experts in Health Impact Assessment. To facilitate initial assessment of the extent to which trade agreements value health considerations, we also developed an operational tool for rapid assessment of health considerations in trade agreements. Objectives and added value The goal of this cross-disciplinary workshop is to discuss an example of how trade agreements balance economic interests of market actors and transnational firms with objectives of public health. We will provide sample results of applying the operational tool to a trade agreement. The sample application will have collected aspects related to health within the trade agreement by utilizing an extensive list of terms that indicate the presence of values and principles suggested by the ethical framework for health and trade. In a context analysis, we will also have assessed whether legal and economic outcomes of an agreement align with the agreements’ stated values and commitments made regarding public health. The specific objectives of the workshop are to: a) Present the rationale for developing an ethical framework and a rapid assessment tool for consideration of health in trade; b) Offer perspectives from medicine, law and social well-being policy on the draft framework and tool; c) Elicit constructive criticism on the framework and tool from experts present at EUPHA. Format The 25-minute workshop will consist of a 4-minute presentation on the rationale for and development of the proposed ethical framework and tool. The workshop chair and two expert panelists representing medicine, law and social well-being policy will provide 4-minute comments each. We will then facilitate a 10-minute discussion centered on the key question for the workshop: How can we make health considerations an explicit aspect of trade negotiations? During the interactive discussion, we plan to use audience polls. Key questions for the audience will include: To what extent does the proposed framework reflect important health values in trade agreements? What elements are redundant, what is missing, what is ethically or practically unreasonable? What could be the next steps? Key messages • Trade and investment agreements can impact public and population health. Ideally, an ethical framework informed by health values and a rapid assessment tool would guide actors in trade and health. • We present an ethical framework and a rapid assessment tool, designed to help negotiators and scholars navigate moral and ethical dilemmas at the intersection of health and trade. Speakers/Panellists Corrado Piroddi Tampere University, Tampere, Finland Abbe Brown TIPU/ University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Author: Chair persons: Pekka Louhiala (Finland)
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7101414158
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