Following-up on this follow-up post, here's more about current disagreements over trade in asbestos:
Controversy over asbestos exports continued to dog Quebec Premier Jean Charest right up to the very last day of a trade mission to India.
Indian unions and other groups twice called on Charest during the week-long mission to put a halt to the export of the cancer-linked material that is used in construction.
And just days prior to leaving on the mission, more than 100 scientists from 28 countries lent their support to a letter urging the premier to put a stop to asbestos exports from the province.
But the premier insisted Saturday the debate over risks related to the use of asbestos – also called chrysotile – is a thing of the past.
"We reflected a long time over chrysotile and it is politically part of our history," he said. "The Quebec position is well known and, I believe, where it needs to stand."
Charest said it was necessary to make do with the risks related to asbestos even in developing countries where labour standards are not always respected.
…
He maintained it was the Indian government's responsibility to ensure proper use of the product.