This report examines how environmental provisions in regional trade agreements affecting the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors (Ag-ERPs) influence domestic laws and governance frameworks in four countries: Costa Rica, Kenya, Malaysia, and South Africa. The analysis shows that these provisions serve as catalysts for policy reform, strengthening regulations on hazardous substance management, combating illegal fishing, and promoting legal timber trade. The relationship between international commitments and national policies is found to be multidimensional and mutually reinforcing, with implementation effectiveness largely dependent on domestic institutional capacity and alignment between economic objectives and environmental requirements. The experiences of these countries provide valuable lessons for other nations seeking to build more sustainable and resilient agri-food systems amid the growing global trend toward greener trade policies.
