WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONTN/TE/S/2
10 June 2002
(02-3193)
Committee on Trade and Environment
Special Session
EXISTING FORMS OF COOPERATION AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE
BETWEEN UNEP/MEAS AND THE WTO
Note by the Secretariat
Paragraph 31 (ii)
1. This Note responds to a request made by the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE)
Special Session1 for a Secretariat background Note on existing forms of cooperation and information
exchange between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and the WTO.  As a number of
MEAs are administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNEP/WTOcooperation is also covered in this Note.
2. This Note is divided as follows:
• Part I  addresses existing forms of cooperation.
• Part II addresses existing forms of information exchange.
• Part III addresses the observer status which the WTO and UNEP/MEAs have in each
other's institutions and which leads to cooperation and information exchange.
3. In the Doha Ministerial Declaration, Ministers made a number of references to the importance
of cooperation and information exchange.  In the Preamble, they welcomed "the WTO's continuedcooperation with UNEP and other inter-governmental environmental organizations.  [They
encouraged] efforts to promote cooperation between the WTO and relevant international
environmental and developmental organizations, especially in the lead-up to the World Summit on
Sustainable Development to be held in Johannes burg, South Africa, in September 2002." Moreover,
in paragraph 31 (ii) they agreed to negotiations, without prejudging their outcome, on "procedures forregular information exchange between MEA Secretariats and the relevant WTO committees, and the
criteria for the granting of observer status."
2
I. EXISTING FORMS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN UNEP/MEAS AND THE WTO
A. C OOPERATION ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE WTO AND UNEP S ECRETARIATS
4. On 29 November 1999, a cooperation arrangement between the WTO and UNEP was
concluded and its elements detailed in the following press release:
                                                     
1 Summary Report on the First Meeting of the CTE Special Session (TN/TE/R/1, 19 April 2002).
2 WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 20 November 2001.TN/TE/S/2
Page 2
Elements of Cooperation Between the WTO and UNEP
Press Release – Press/154 – 29 November 1999
A global arrangement between the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization and
the United Nations as a whole was agreed between the two Secretariats in an
exchange of letters between the Director-General of the WTO and the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 29 September 1995.  In accordance with the
mandate given to the Secretariat of the WTO and the mandate given to the Secretariat
of the United Nations Environment Progra mme (UNEP), recognition is given to the
importance of cooperation and collaboration between the two Secretariats with
respect to their work on issues of mutual interest.
Recalling the commitment of Members to continue to improve efforts towards the
objective of sustainable development,  the WTO and UNEP Secretariats have
elaborated the following elements of cooperation between their respective
organizations.  This cooperation will take place in the context of our respective
mandates and within our respective resources.
Building on the global arrangement between the UN and the WTO, consultations
have been held between the Director-General of the WTO and the Executive-Directorof UNEP to further effective cooperation be tween the two Secretariats in areas of
mutual interest and to help achieve the aims of the Rio Declaration.  It is understood
that cooperation between the WTO and UNEP Secretariats should encompass
practical measures which could assist in the smooth and efficient functioning of both
organizations in areas where interaction could be of mutual benefit.  The goal is toimprove the working relationship at all levels in the two Secretariats, including with
respect to technical cooperation and research initiatives.
Cooperation between the WTO and UNEP Secretariats will thus include the provision
and exchange of relevant non-confidential information, including access to trade-
related environmental databases, and reciprocal representation at meetings of a non-confidential nature, in accordance with the decisions of the competent bodies of the
respective organizations.  With respect to participation and representation, it is noted
that the WTO Secretariat is an observer of the Governing Council of UNEP, and
UNEP is an observer of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment.
Building on past practice, the Secretariats of the two organizations will also continue,
as appropriate, their cooperation and collaboration, in particular through informal
staff meetings and information sessions, including where feasible with theparticipation of the Secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
Capacity building for developing countries and countries with economies in transition
is another form of cooperative activity between the two Secretariats which could
usefully be continued and further strengthened, thus contributing to raising awareness
on the linkages between trade, environment and sustainable development and thedevelopment of policies which integrate su stainable development considerations with
trade policies.  We agree to work for complementarity in technical cooperation with
the aim of improving cooperation across the board and making better use of available
resources.TN/TE/S/2
Page 3
B. MEETINGS ORGANIZED BY UNEP BACK -TO-BACK WITH THE CTE
5. To enhance developing and least-developed country engagement in trade and environment
discussions at the international level, UNEP has organized a number of meetings back-to-back with
the CTE, and funded the participation of a substantial number of capital-based environment officials.
The following is a list of the meetings organized:
• "Workshop with the Secretariats of UNEP Administered Conventions and the Secretariat of
WTO", Geneva, 28 June 1999;
• "Enhancing Synergies and Mutual Supportiveness of MEAs and the WTO", Geneva,
23 October 2000;
• "Fisheries Subsidies Workshop", Geneva, 12 February 2001;
• "Compliance, Enforcement and Dispute Settlement in MEAs and the WTO", Geneva,
26 June 2001;
• "Workshop on the Impacts of Trade-Related Policies on Fisheries and Measures for
Sustainable Fisheries Management", Geneva, 15 March 2002;
• "Workshop on Capacity Building on Environment, Trade and Development", Geneva,
19-20 March 2002.
6. All the meetings cited above have generated a Chairman's Summary, with the exception of the
June 1999 meeting.  These are available on the UNEP website at www.unep.ch/etu.  A synthesis
paper based on the results of five meetings organized by UNEP on the MEA-WTO relationship (thethree above, together with one at the 8
th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD-8) in April 2000, and a High-Level Meeting in Berlin in March 2001), has also been publishedand can be found on the same website.
3
C. WTO T RADE AND ENVIRONMENT REGIONAL SEMINARS
7. Regional Seminars on Trade and Environment for developing countries and economies in
transition have been organized by the WTO Secretariat since 1998.  The objective of these seminars is
to raise awareness on the linkages between trade, environment and sustainable development and to
further enhance the dialogue between trade and environment policymakers in WTO Member and
acceding governments.  Issues of relevance to trade and environment and the rules of the WTO, aswell as specific concerns in each region are addressed.  In 1999, the WTO started the practice of
inviting UNEP, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and MEAs to
participate in these seminars in order to bring their perspectives to the regions.
Table 1:  List of WTO Trade and Environm ent Regional Seminars in which UNEP, UNCTAD,
and MEAs Participated
Date Place Region MEA, UNEP and UNCTAD
Participation
8-10 February 1999 Harare,
ZimbabweEnglish-speaking
least-developed and
developing African
countriesUNEP
                                                     
3 Enhancing Synergies and Mutual Supportiveness of Multilatera l Environmental Agreements and the
World Trade Organization, a synthesis report, January 2002, UNEP, Geneva.TN/TE/S/2
Page 4
Date Place Region MEA, UNEP and UNCTAD
Participation
11-13 April 2000 Cape Town,
South AfricaEnglish-speaking least-
developed and developing
African countriesUNCTAD
23-25 May 2000 La Valetta,
MaltaMiddle East countries and
MaltaUNCTAD, UNEP, Basel
Convention
11-13 July 2000 Libreville,
GabonFrench-speaking least-
developed and developing
sub-Saharan African
countriesUNEP, UNCTAD, Basel
Convention
6-8 November 2000 Buenos Aires Latin  American countries UNEP, UNCTAD
27-29 March 2001 Chiang Mai,
ThailandAsian countries UNEP, UNCTAD
28-30 January 2002 Saint-Lucia Caribbean countries CITES, Basel Convention,
Montreal Protocol, UNEP,
UNCTAD
5-7 March 2002 Bogota Latin American countries UNCTAD
13-15 May 2002 Singapore Asian countries UNEP, UNCTAD
8. The WTO Secretariat has scheduled an additional four Regional Seminars for 2002, in which
UNEP, UNCTAD, and several MEAs are expected to participate:
• Namibia, 8-11 July 2002, African countries;
• Djibouti, September 2002, African countries;
• Latvia, September 2002, Central and Eastern European countries; and
• Fiji, November 2002, Pacific economies.
D. UNEP-UNCTAD C APACITY -BUILDING TASK FORCE ON TRADE , E NVIRONMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT (CBTF)
9. UNEP and UNCTAD have been cooperating in the field of trade, environment and
development through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 1997.  To combine the
strengths of UNEP in building capacity on the environmental aspects of trade, and UNCTAD's
capacity on the developmental side, a CBTF was created.4  The objective of the CBTF is to strengthen
the capacities of countries, particularly developing countries and countries with economies in
transition, to effectively address trade, environment, and development issues.   The CBTF conductsthematic research, country studies, training, policy dialogue, and networking and information
exchange.  Since it was established, the WTO Secretariat has closely collaborated with this
                                                     
4 See the UNEP/UNCTAD communication to the CTE on UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task
Force on Trade, Environment and Development  (WT/CTE/W/138, 4 April 2000).TN/TE/S/2
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Task Force to bring its expertise on international trad e to bear.  It has also been involved in several of
the recent post-Doha CBTF activities.  A decision has been taken to institutionalise CBTF back-to-
back workshops with the WTO Regional Seminars, starting with the one for Asian developing
countries which was held in Singapore from 13-15 May 2002.
10. Below is a list of recent CBTF activities which have, or will involve, the WTO secretariat:5
• Launching workshop of the CBTF training m odules on trade, environment and development,
Havana, Cuba, 10-14 December 2001.
• Brainstorming meeting for interested developing countries on the post-Doha discussions and
negotiations and related capacity-building needs, organized by UNEP, UNCTAD and theAgency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (AITIC), Geneva,
25 February 2002.
• Workshop on post-Doha negotiating issues on trade and environment in paragraph 31, held
back-to-back with the WTO Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for Asian countries,
Singapore, 16 May 2002.
• Workshop on post-Doha issues on trade and environment in paragraphs 31 and 32, to be held
back-to-back with the WTO Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for English-
speaking African countries, Windhoek, Namibia, 10-11 July 2002.
II. EXISTING FORMS OF INFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN UNEP/MEAS
AND THE WTO
A. I
NFORMATION SESSIONS
1. MEA Information Sessions in the CTE
11. The CTE has invited a number of MEA Secretariats to participate in a total of six Information
Sessions from 1997 to date.  MEA Secretariats presented background notes on their respective MEAs
and responded to questions from Members on the trade-related aspects of their agreements.  Such
events have been organized approximately once a year.  Since 1997, the following MEAs have
participated in CTE Information Sessions:6
1. The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes
(Basel Convention)
2. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Biosafety Protocol
3. The Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
4. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
5. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT)
6. The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF)
7. The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
8. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol)
9. The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Inform ed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
10. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
11. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
12. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
13. The United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UN Fish Stocks)
                                                     
5 Information on all of the above-mentioned activities is accessible on the CBTF website at
www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf.
6 While not MEAs per se , the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the
Implementation of the Montreal Protocol have also participated.TN/TE/S/2
Page 6
Table 2:  MEA Information Sessions in the CTE
Date MEAs Participating Documents Circulated by MEAs
22-24 September 1997
(WT/CTE/M/15)• Basel Convention
• CBD
• CITES
• GEF
• Montreal Protocol
• Multilateral Fund for
the Implementation of
the Montreal Protocol
• UNCLOS
• UNEP Chemicals on
PIC and POPsConventions
• UNEP• Basel Convention (W/CTE/W/55)
• CBD (WT/CTE/W/64)
• CITES (WT/CTE/W/63)
• GEF (WT/CTE/W/58)
• Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/57)
• Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of
the Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/60)
• UNCLOS (WT/CTE/W/62)
• UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPs
Conventions (WT/CTE/W59)
• UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/61)
23-24 July 1998
(WT/CTE/M/18)• Basel Convention
• CBD
• ECE POPs Protocol
• ICCAT
• IFF
• ITTO
• UNEP Chemicals on
PIC and POPs
Conventions
• UNFCCC
• UNEP• Basel Convention (WT/CTE/W/90)
• CBD (WT/CTE/W/92)
• ECE POPs Protocol (WT/CTE/W/88)
• ICCAT (WT/CTE/W/87)
• IFF (WT/CTE/W/84)
• ITTO (WT/CTE/W/89)
• UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPs
Conventions (WT/CTE/W/91)
• UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/74)
• UNEP (WT/CTE/W/94)
29-30 June 1999
(PRESS/TE/029)• CITES
• IFF
• ITTO
• Montreal Protocol
• UNFCCC• CCAMLR (WT/CTE/W/113 and Corr.1)
• CBD (WT/CTE/W/116)
• CITES (WT/CTE/W/119)
• IFF (WT/CTE/W/122)
• ITTO (WT/CTE/W/120)
• Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/115)
• UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/123)
5-6 July 2000
(WT/CTE/M/24)• CBD
• ICCAT
• Montreal Protocol
• UNFCCC
• UNEP• CBD (WT/CTE/W/149 and WT/CTE/W/136)
• CCAMLR (WT/CTE/W/148)
• ICCAT (WT/CTE/W/152)
• Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/142)
• UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/153)
• UNEP (WT/CTE/W/155)TN/TE/S/2
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Date MEAs Participating Documents Circulated by MEAs
24-25 October 2000
(WT/CTE/M/25) 7• Basel Convention
• CBD
• CITES
• IFF
• UNEP Chemicals on
PIC and POPsConventions
• UNFCCC
• UNEP• Basel Convention (WT/CTE/W/163 and
Corr.1)
• CITES (WT/CTE/W/165)
• IFF (WT/CTE/W/164)
• ITTO (WT/CTE/W/169)
• UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPs
Conventions (WT/CTE/W/166)
• UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/174)
• UNEP (WT/CTE/W/179)
27-28 June 2001
(WT/CTE/M/27)• Basel Convention
• Biosafety Protocol
• CBD
• CITES
• Montreal Protocol
• UNEP Chemicals on
PIC and POPs
Conventions
• UNFCCC
• UN Fish Stocks
• UNEPThe following MEAs contributed to a background
paper jointly prepared by the WTO and UNEP
Secretariats on Compliance and Dispute Settlement
Provisions in the WTO and in MEAs – Note by the
WTO and UNEP Secretariats (WT/CTE/W/191):
- Basel Convention
- Biosafety Protocol
- CBD
- CCAMLR
- CITES
- ICCAT
- Montreal Protocol
- UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPs Conventions
- UNFCCC
- UN Fish Stocks
2. WTO Side Events in MEAs
12. Since 2002, the WTO Secretariat has been organizing technical assistance workshops ("side
events") in parallel to some of main meetings of MEA.  The objective of such events is to enhanceunderstanding of WTO rules, and to create a forum for information exchange between the WTO
Secretariat and MEAs.  In 2002, the WTO held two such side events, one on the sidelines of the
Second Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) (March 2002, New York) and the
other on the sidelines of the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD (April 2002,
The Hague).  The Doha Development Agenda was discussed at the meetings, with a focus onparagraphs 31 and 32 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.  In addition, the WTO rules on areas of
specific interest to the MEAs in question were addr essed.  For instance, at the UNFF side event, WTO
rules on certification and labelling were presented.
B. B
ACKGROUND NOTES ON MEA S
1. Background Notes Drafted by the WTO Secretariat in Cooperation with MEAs and
UNEP
13.  In 2001 the WTO prepared a Background Note on Compliance and Dispute Settlement
Provisions in the WTO and in MEAs  together with UNEP and a number of MEA Secretariats
                                                     
7 Opening statements were made by the Director-General of the WTO, Mr. Mike Moore
(WT/CTE/W/178) and the Executive Director of UNEP, Dr. Klaus Töpfer (WT/CTE/W/179) at thisInformation Session.TN/TE/S/2
Page 8
(WT/CTE/W/191, 6 June 2001).  The Note served as background for an MEA Information Session
held in the context of the CTE on the theme of compliance and dispute settlement.
14. Also in 2001, the WTO updated its Matrix on Trade Measures Pursuant to Selected MEAs
(WT/CTE/W/160/Rev.1, 14 June 2001) in cooperation with the following MEAs: the
Basel Convention; the Biosafety Protocol; the CBD; CCAMLR; CITES; ICCAT; the ITTO; theMontreal Protocol; POPs;  UNEP Chemicals on the PIC and POPs Conventions; the UNFCCC; and
UN Fish Stocks.  The Matrix provides information on the trade measures contained
in 14 environmental conventions and protocols.
2. Background Notes on MEA
S circulated in the CTE
15. A large number of documents on MEAs have been circulated in the CTE by WTO and MEA
Secretariats, a full list of which is contained in the Annex to this Note.
III. OBSERVER STATUS
A. MEA O BSERVERSHIP IN THE WTO
16. A number of international intergovernmental organizations enjoy observer status in the CTE.8
Included amongst them are UNEP and the follow ing MEAs: the CBD, CITES, ICCAT, and the
UNFCCC.  At present, only one MEA request for observer status in the CTE is pending, that of the
ITTO.
17.  In terms of other WTO bodies, while UNEP has observer status in the Committee on Trade
and Development (CTD), its request for such status in the General Council and the Council for Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  (TRIPS) are pending.  The CBD's requests for
observer status in the Committee on Agriculture and the TRIPS Council are also pending.
18. Observer status in the WTO entitles international organizations to receive WTO documents.
According to General Council Rules of Procedure, "O bserver organizations shall receive copies of the
main WTO documents series and of other documents series relating to the work of the subsidiary
bodies which they attend as observers.  They may receive such additional documents as may be
specified by the terms of any formal arrangements for cooperation between them and the WTO".9
B. WTO O BSERVERSHIP IN UNEP AND MEA S
19. In addition to the WTO's observer status in the UNEP Governing Council,10 the WTO attends,
on a regular basis, the main meetings of MEAs which contain trade-related measures.  Most MEAs
address the issue of the observership of international organizations in their statutes.  MEAs allow
international organizations to attend meetings as observers by simply expressing an interest in doing
so.  The statutes of certain MEAs, for instance, state the following:
                                                     
8 WT/CTE/W/41/Rev.8, 19 September 2001.
9 Rule 9 of Annex 3 on Observer Status for International Intergovernmental Organizations in the WTO
(WT/L/161, 25 July 1996).
10 See the 4th paragraph of WTO Press Release 154 (29 November 1999), on the Elements of
Cooperation between the WTO and UNEP , which is reproduced in this Note.TN/TE/S/2
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Basel, Article 15.6:
The United Nations, its specialized agencies, as well as any State not Party to this
Convention, may be represented as observers at meetings of the Conference of the
Parties.  Any other body or agency, whether national or international, governmental
or non-governmental, qualified in fields relating to hazardous wastes or other wasteswhich has informed the Secretariat of its wish to be represented as an observer at a
meeting of the Conference of Parties, may be admitted unless at least one third of the
Parties present object.  The admission and participation of observers shall be subject
to the rules of procedure adopted by the Conference of the Parties.
CBD, Article 23.5:
The United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy
Agency, as well as any State not Party to this Convention, may be represented asobservers at meetings of the Conference of the Parties.  Any other body or agency,
whether governmental or non-governmental, qualified in fields relating to
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, which has informed the
Secretariat of its wish to be represented as an observer at a meeting of the Conference
of the Parties, may be admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object.The admission and participation of observers shall be subject to the rules of procedure
adopted by the Conference of the Parties.
Stockholm Convention (POPs  Agreement ), Article 19.8:
The United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy
Agency, as well as any State not Party to this Convention, may be represented atmeetings of the Conference of the Parties as observers.  Any body or agency, whether
national or international, governmental or non-governmental, qualified in matters
covered by the Convention, and which has informed the Secretariat of its wish to be
represented at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties as an observer may be
admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object.  The admission andparticipation of observers shall be subject to the rules of procedure adopted by the
Conference of the Parties.
_______________TN/TE/S/2
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ANNEX
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS ON MEAS CIRCULATED IN THE CTE
1. The Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/163 and
Corr.112 October 2000 The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal –
Communication from the Secretariat of theBasel Convention
WT/CTE/W/130 and
Corr.19 February 2000 Recent Developments in MEAs (Montreal Protocol and
the Basel Convention) – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/90 20 July 1998 The Basel Convention: Recent Developments –
Communication from the Secretariat of the
Basel Convention
WT/CTE/W/86 8 July 1998 Recent Developments in the Basel Convention, the PIC
Convention, and the Convention on Biological
Diversity – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/55 25 August 1997 Recent Trade-Related Developments in the
Basel Convention – Communication from the
Secretariat of the Basel Convention
WT/CTE/W/12 10 October 1995 Recent Developments in the Montreal Protocol and the
Basel Convention – Note by the Secretariat
2. The Biosafety Protocol
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/190 1 May 2001 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety – Note by the
Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/136 30 March 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on
Biological Diversity:  Text of the Protocol –
Communication from the Secretariat of the CBD
WT/CTE/W/124 9 August 1999 Convention on Biol ogical Diversity:  Draft Protocol on
Biosafety – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/117 28 June 1999 Convention on Biol ogical Diversity – Draft Protocol on
Biosafety: – Recent Developments – Note by the
SecretariatTN/TE/S/2
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3. The Convention on Biological Diversity
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/158 28 July 2000 Recent Developments in the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD) – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/149 28 June 2000 Response of the Executive Secretary of the CBD to the
Chair of the CTE – Communication from the Secretariat
of the CBD
WT/CTE/W/116 28 June 1999 Response of the Executive Secretary of the Convention
on Biological Diversity to the Request of the Chair of
the CTE –  Communication from the Secretariat of the
CBD
WT/CTE/W/92 22 July 1998 The Convention on Biological Diversity –
Communication from the Secretariat of the CBD
WT/CTE/W/86 8 July 1998 Recent Developments in the Basel Convention, the PIC
Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity
– Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/64 29 September 1997 The Convention on Biological Diversity and its Relation
to Trade – Communication from the Executive Secretary
of the CBD
WT/CTE/W/44 20 March 1997 Recent Developments in the Convention on Biological
Diversity and the Montreal Protocol – Note by the
Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/18 12 January 1996 Recent Developments in the Convention on Biological
Diversity – Note by the Secretariat
4. The Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Marine Living Resources
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/148 30 June 2000 The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources – Communication from the
Secretariat of the CCAMLR
WT/CTE/W/113and Corr.128 May 1999 The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic
Marine Living Resources – Communication from the
Secretariat of the CCAMLR
5. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/165 13 October 2000 The Relationship between the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora and the WTO – Communication from
the Secretariat of the CITES
WT/CTE/W/151 29 June 2000 Recent Developments in MEAs (CITES and POPs
Convention) – Note by the SecretariatTN/TE/S/2
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Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/119 25 June 1999 Background note on the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
and WTO  – Communication from the Secretariat of the
CITES
WT/CTE/W/71 21 November 1997 Recent Developments in the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/63 17 September 1997 The Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – Communication
from the Secretariat of the CITES
6. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/152 29 June 2000 Conservation Measures Taken by the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas –
Communication from the Secretariat of the ICCAT
WT/CTE/W/87 16 July 1998 Stock Management Measures taken by the International
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in
relation to trade measures – Communication from the
Secretariat of the ICCAT
7. The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/164 12 October 2000 Intergovernmental Policy Deliberations on Forests:
Trade and Environment – Communication from the
Secretariat of the IFF
WT/CTE/W/140 20 June 2000 Recent Developments in the International Forum on
Forests – Full Text of the Programme Element of the
Intergovernmental Forum on Forests – Note by the
Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/122 29 June 1999 The Intergovernmental Policy Dialogue on Forests:  the
Intergovernmental  Forum on Forests of The United
Nations Commission on Sustainable Development –
Communication from the Secretariat of the IFF
WT/CTE/W/84 1 July 1998 Trade and Environment in relation to Forest Products
and Services:  an overview of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Forests and the Intergovernmental Forum on
Forests deliberations – Communication from the
Secretariat of the IFF
WT/CTE/W/48 14 May 1997 Results of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel on
Forests – Note by the SecretariatTN/TE/S/2
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8. The International Tropical Timber Organization
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/169 17 October 2000 The International Tropical Timber Agreement –
Communication from the Secretariat of the ITTO
WT/CTE/W/120 29 June 1999 Background Note on the International Tropical Timber
Organization – Communication from the Secretariat of
the ITTO
WT/CTE/W/89 20 July 1998 Recent Trade-Related Developments in the International
Tropical Timber Agreement – Communication from the
Secretariat of the ITTO
9. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone layer
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/142 19 June 2000 Trade-Related Developments in the Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer –
Communication from the Secretariat of the
Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol, UNEP
WT/CTE/W/130 andCorr.19 February 2000 Recent Developments in MEAs (Montreal Protocol and
the Basel Convention) – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/115 25 June 1999 Communication from the Secretariat of the Vienna
Convention and the Montreal Protocol, UNEP
WT/CTE/W/104 28 January 1999 Recent Developments in the Montreal Protocol – Note
by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/68 14 November 1997 The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer:  Recent Developments – Note by the
Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/60 8 September 1997 Nature and Extent of Projects Supported by the
Multilateral Fund – Communication from the Secretariat
of the Multilateral Fund fo r the Implementation of the
Montreal Protocol
WT/CTE/W/57 28 August 1997 The Montreal Protocol and Trade Measures –
Communication from the Secretariat of the Vienna
Convention and the Montreal Protocol
WT/CTE/W/44 20 March 1997 Recent Developments in the Convention on Biological
Diversity and the Montreal Protocol – Note by the
Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/19 23 January 1996 Recent Developments at the Seventh Meeting of the
Parties to the Montreal Protocol – Note by the
Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/12 10 October 1995 Recent Developments in the Montreal Protocol and the
Basel Convention – Note by the SecretariatTN/TE/S/2
Page 14
10. The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent
Organic Pollutants
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/193 19 June 2001 Recent Developments in MEAs – Stockholm
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) –
Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/166 16 October 2000 Draft Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Convention
and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed
Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade –
Communication from UNEP Chemicals
WT/CTE/W/151 29 June 2000 Recent Developments in MEAs (CITES and POPs
Convention) – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/128 29 November 1999 Recent Developments in MEAs (PIC and POPs
Conventions) – Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/112 10 May 1999 Draft International Legally Binding Instrument for
Implementing International Action on Certain PersistentOrganic Pollutants (POPs) – Recent Developments –
Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/91 20 July 1998 Background Paper on the Draft PIC Convention and the
Ongoing Negotiations for a Global POPs Treaty –Communication from the Secretariat of UNEP
Chemicals on PIC and POPs Conventions
WT/CTE/W/86 8 July 1998 Recent Developments in the Basel Convention, the PIC
Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity– Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/59 3 September 1997 The Proposed Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Conventions –
Communication from UNEP Chemicals Secretariat
11. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/62 16 September 1997 The 1994 Agreement Relating to the Implementation of
Part XI of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of theSea – Communication from the UN Division for Ocean
Affairs and the Law of the Sea
12. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/201 2 October 2001 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) – Recent developments – Note by
the SecretariatTN/TE/S/2
Page 15
Symbol Date Issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/174 23 October 2000 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change – Communication from the Secretariat of the
UNFCCC
WT/CTE/W/153 29 June 2000 Developments in the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change – Communication from
the Secretariat of the UNFCCC
WT/CTE/W/123 8 July 1999 United Nations  Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)  – Communication from the
Secretariat of the UNFCCC
WT/CTE/W/74 3 March 1998 Recent Developments in the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change:  The Kyoto Protocol –
Note by the Secretariat
WT/CTE/W/61 16 September 1997 The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change – Communication from the Secretariat of the
UNFCCC
13. Others
Symbol Date issued Topic
WT/CTE/W/88 20 July 1998 The Protocol to the 1979 UN/ECE Convention on
Long-Range Transboundary Air on Pollution
Persistent Organic Pollutants – Communication
from the Secretariat of the UN/ECE Convention on
Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
WT/CTE/W/58 2 September 1997 Nature and Extent of GEF Projects in Assisting in
the Implementation of MEAs – Communication
from the Secretariat of the GEF
WT/CTE/W/15 andCorr.11 December 1995 Recent Developments in the FAO Code of
Conduct for Responsible Fisheries – Note by the
Secretariat
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