. /.  
 WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/CTE/11 
30 November 2004 
 
 (04-5189) 
  
  
 
REPORT (2004) OF THE COMMIT TEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT 
  
1. The Committee on Trade and Environment in Regul ar Session (CTE) held three meetings in 
2004 under the chairmanship of Ambassador Peter Br ňo (Slovak Republic) (April) and Ambassador 
Naéla Gabr (Egypt) (June and October).
1 
2. The work of the CTE was organized in accordance with the mandate contained in 
paragraph 32 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration (DMD).2  Particular attention was given to market 
access issues (paragraph  32(i))3, the relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement (paragraph  32(ii)), 
and labelling requirements for envi ronmental purposes (paragraph  32( iii)).  The CTE also continued 
its analysis on the other items of its work progra mme.  Pursuant to paragraph 33, Members discussed 
technical assistance, capacity building and enviro nmental reviews.  Unde r paragraph 51, Members 
undertook to identify and debate the developmental and environmental aspects of the negotiations, in 
order to help achieve the objective of having su stainable development appropriately reflected.  
3. At the meeting of 20 April 2004, under para graph 32, Members discussed possible ways to 
move forward the work under sub- paragraphs (i) and (iii).  The UNCTAD informed the CTE of its 
relevant activities under sub-paragraph (i) (WT/CTE/ GEN/15).  Under paragraph 33, information was 
provided by the Secretariat on its 2004 technical assistance plan and by UNEP on its relevant activities (WT/CTE/GEN/16).  Under paragraph 51, having heard in 2003 a series of briefing 
covering areas of negotiation where environmental asp ects were most relevant (Agriculture, Rules, 
Services and Market Access for Non-Agricultural Products), the Committee sought ways to carry 
forward its work.  Members also held discussions on a proposal made by Canada on the CTE work 
programme (WT/CTE/W/234). 
4. At the meeting of 21 June 2004, Members held discussions under paragraph 32(i) regarding 
the effects of environmental measures on market ac cess.  In relation to sector analysis, concerning 
situations in which the eliminati on or reduction of trade restricti ons and distortions would benefit 
trade, the environment and development, UNEP informed the Committee of the results of its 
Workshop on Fisheries Subsidies and Sustainable Fisheries Management (WT/CTE/W/236).  Under 
paragraph 32(ii), discussions were held regarding a note from the Convention on Biological Diversity 
(CBD) on the Decisions of the Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD and the First Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (WT/CTE/W/235).  Under paragraph 33, the European Communities informed the CTE of a technical assistance programme 
initiated by the European Commission and the Intern ational Trade Centre (ITC).  On paragraph 51, 
Members discussed ways to move forward the work under this paragraph, including to update, when 
appropriate, the 2003 briefings, and the possibility of  holding a relevant event as proposed by the 
European Communities.  It was ag reed that the Chairperson would meet with the Chairman of the 
                                                     
 
1 The reports of the meetings are contained in documents WT/CTE/M/36-[38].  
2 Hereafter paragraph numbers refer to those of the Doha Ministerial Declaration. 
3 The full text of paragraph 32(i) reads:  "the ef fect of environmental measures on market access, 
especially in relation to developing countries, in partic ular the least-developed among them, and those situations 
in which the elimination or reduction of trade restrictions and distortions would benefit trade, the environment 
and development". WT/CTE/11 
Page 2  
 
Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) to ex change information on how the mandates had 
been taken up in the two Committees.  Unde r paragraph 51, New Zealand identified the 
developmental and environmental aspects of the fishery subsidies negotiations.  A number of 
Members clarified their positions in this respect. 
5. At the meeting of 14  October 2004, Members held di scussions under paragraph 32(i) 
regarding the effects of environmental measures on market access based on an earlier submission by 
Indian (WT/CTE/W/207) and a recent one by the European Communities (WT/CTE/W/239).  Under paragraph 32(ii), Members further discussed the not e from the CBD (WT/CTE/W/235).  In relation to 
Item 4 of the CTE Work Programme with respect to the transparency of trade measures used for 
environmental purposes, the Secretariat provided a detailed explanation as well as making a 
demonstration on the new CRN facility which would en able the search and retrieval of environment-
related notifications (WT/CTE/W/237).  On paragra ph 33, the Secretariat informed the Committee of 
its trade and environment technical assistance activ ities undertaken in 2004 and those planned for the 
year 2005.  Under paragraph 51, the Chairpers on reported to the CTE on her meeting with the 
Chairman of the CTD on how the paragraph 51 ma ndate had been taken up in the two respective 
Committees.  Moreover, Members discussed a proposal for holding a learning event on sustainable 
development within the framework of the mandate under Paragraph 51.   The Committee adopted its 
2004 Annual Report and took note of the request fr om the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean 
States (OECS) for observer status in the Committee.  
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