. /. RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/CTE/W/238 
20 September 2004  
 
(04-3954) 
Committee on Trade and Environment  
  
 
 
DRAFT  
 
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, 
                                                     
 
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/W/238 
Page 2  
 
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 
Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) to ex change information on how the mandates had 
been taken up in the two Committees.  Discussions we re also held under paragraph 51 following the 
identification by New Zealand of 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, under paragraph 51, th e Chairperson reported to the CTE 
on her meeting with the Chairman of the CTD.  To be completed]  
 
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