NAFTA's clean-up act.

• Author: Bielenberg, Aaron
• Position: North American Free Trade Agreement

In a Landmark accord, the NAFTA countries, Canada, the United States, and Mexico, have agreed to target DDT, chlordane, and mercury for regional phase-out or reduction. Following an agreement drawn up by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), the two insecticides and one heavy metal were added to a short list of toxic substances last April. The three countries had named PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) last October.

This is the first time that the three NAFTA signatories have together agreed to target a list of specific pollutants for joint action. Although steps have been taken by the individual countries to control the use and release of these toxic substances, PCBs, DDT...