This section surveys three trade-related issues that may have significant environmental impacts, but that are not drafted in RTIAs as environmental provisions as such: services, intellectual property rights and government procurement. Most RTIAs will accord these issues their own chapters in the agreement.

It should be stressed that, while the environmental provisions of RTIAs are important, environmental threads are woven throughout the agreements, and often the “main text” provisions such as investment, services and others can have greater environmental significance than the environmental provisions proper.