805 



The depressed economic situation will also lead to greater resistance to 

 domestic environmental regulation if that is assumed to affect adversely the 

 international competitive position of a nation's goods. As noted earlier, it 

 is not always appropriate to call for common environmental standards in all 

 nations, and even when it is, it is not clear they can be successfully 

 negotiated. Thus, the costs and basis for domestic environmental regulations 

 are likely to be difficult issues because of their international implications. 



Some issues with a much longer time horizon may become clearer in the next 

 few years as research increases understanding of important global systems. In 

 particular, the effects of CO2 buildup or of NOx in the atmosphere may be 

 better understood. The global economic implications of those effects or of 

 attempts to control them would be profound. Unprecedented disputes could 

 arise, with conceivably important changes in the status of individual nations 

 (either from the effects which may benefit some -- say through improved 

 agricultural conditions — and hurt others, or through the costs of mitigating 

 harmful effects which would likely fall unequally). It is unlikely that these 

 issues will come to a head in a few years, but the debate could be far 

 advanced over the uncertainties evident today. 



Exploitation of global commons, especially the oceans and outer space, is 

 likely to proceed during the coming decade. The Law of the Seas negotiation 

 appeared to be nearing completion, with proposed establishment of a new 

 international institution responsible for overseeing the mining of the 

 resources of the seabed, though the position of the U.S. is now in doubt. 



