Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Environmental impacts of trade liberalization

This 2007 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization within Thailand's electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) sector. It highlights the tension between the sector's role in export-led growth and the resulting environmental challenges, specifically the rapid increase in e-waste and the risks associated with mid-stream production and informal recycling.

• Thailand's EEE sector is a major driver of export-led growth, with exports valued at US$44.6 billion in 2006, representing approximately one third of the country's total exports. The industry is primarily composed of small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) focusing on components and low-technology products.
• The volume of e-waste (WEEE) in Thailand is increasing rapidly, growing at an annual rate of 12 per cent. This is exemplified by the projected rise in discarded mobile phones, which were expected to increase from 11.5 million units in 2003 to 203.27 million units by 2008.
• Environmental and health risks in the EEE sector vary by production stage; while downstream producers of finished goods generally have well-controlled risks, mid-stream producers of parts and components—who dominate the Thai industry—face higher risks of contamination and exposure.
• The informal recycling sector in Thailand plays a significant role but often employs inappropriate storage and recycling processes that harm human health and the environment. Recycling is hindered by high costs, technical difficulties with hazardous substances, lack of market demand for recycled products, and poor enforcement of waste-control regulations.
• Thailand faces the risk of becoming a dumping ground for foreign e-waste, a concern specifically noted in the context of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA). While the Basel Convention regulates these movements and Thailand has entry-point monitoring, continuous internal monitoring is required to prevent illegal imports.
• To maintain access to key export markets, Thai EEE products must comply with stringent international standards, such as the European Union's WEEE and RoHS directives. To address this, the Thai RoHS alliance was established to share resources and experiences among stakeholders.
• The report recommends several government actions to improve sustainability, including the urgent enactment of the draft Thai WEEE Act, providing investment incentives for the 'Clean Production Approach', and supporting the domestic de-manufacturing industry through Board of Investment (BOI) incentives.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Environmental impacts of trade liberalization. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Environmental impacts of trade liberalization. n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Environmental impacts of trade liberalization |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndelectrical, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Electrical and Electronic Equipment - Environmental impacts of trade liberalization}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/rtea_thai_electrical.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }