WT/MIN(24)/11/Add.1  
 
19 February 2024  
(24-1480) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS (TESSD)  
STATEMENT BY THE TESSD CO -CONVENORS  
Addendum  
This addendum includes the Update to the TESSD Work Plan , accompanying the Statement by the 
TESSD Co -convenors circulated in document WT/MIN(24)/ 11. 
 
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TESSD WORK PLAN  – UPDATE  
1.1.  The 2021  TESSD Ministerial Statement on Trade and Environmental Sustainability provides for 
the objectives, scope and  themes of the work in TESSD. Its implementation over the last two years 
was guided by the TESSD Work Plan  2022 and the Statement by the TESSD Co -convenors at the 
occasion of the High -Level Stocktaking Event on 2 December 2022.1 This update of the Work Pl an is 
intended to reflect the progress and evolution of the discussions and guide the work towards 
identifying possible concrete actions or recommendations  by the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference 
(MC14).  Going forward, the Work Plan may be further adapted to provide for flexibility and enhance 
the effectiveness of work in TESSD.  
1.2.  Work will continue in the formats of formal plenary meetings and four informal Working Groups, 
which are led by facilitators in  an inclusive and transparent way, and in coordination with the 
Co-convenors . Building on the outcomes for the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference ( MC13 ), TESSD 
and its Working Groups will continue work ing towards tangible results and identifying concrete 
actions that participating Members could take individually or collectively.  
1.3.  The Working Groups will also continue monitor ing developments in the WTO and international 
fora so that the different discussions can be mutually supportive.  Efforts to support the multilateral 
work in the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) and other WTO bodies will continue and 
will be strengthened, with a view to reflect relevant outcomes, ideas and progress from discussions 
in the Working Groups.  
1.4.  Across the four Working Groups, common elements that will be reflected in guiding questions 
for meetings include  transparency, best practices and opportunities for policymaking, and 
development perspectives, among others. Particular attention will be paid to fostering 
complementarities across the Working Groups as well as ensuring inclusive approaches to the 
discussions. The Working Groups will identify challenges and opportunities for trade to contribute to 
achieving environmental sustainability,  especially fo r developing and least developed Members, and 
with a particular emphasis on MSMEs. Members will consider the types of capacity building and 
technical assistance that may aid in overcoming specific challenges, and seek to identify where the 
WTO and its Agre ements can provide support.  
 
1 Documents: TESSD Ministerial Statement ( WT/MIN(21)/6/Rev.2  – 14 December  2021); TESSD Work 
Plan 2022 (INF/TE/SSD/W/17/Rev.1  – 18 February 2022 ); and Statement by the TESSD Co -convenors 
(INF/TE/SSD/W/21  – 30 November 2022).  WT/MIN(24)/11/Add.1  
 
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  1.5.  In 2024 following MC13, one plenary meeting and three dates for informal Working Group 
meetings are foreseen. Tentative meeting dates are provided in the Annex. A flexible approach will 
be taken regarding the organi zation and n umber of Working Group meetings, based on the 
respective needs of the four Working Groups. The Working Groups will continue their work as 
outlined below.  
1.6.  The Working Group on Trade -related Climate Measures  (TrCMs) will share experiences on the 
use of  TrCMs aimed at achieving climate change objectives and further discuss how trade and 
environment must be mutually supportive. The Working Group will complement the sharing of 
experiences by identifying practical ways to enhance cooperat ion, drawing from te chnical efforts in 
other international fora on TrCMs.  It will do so by focusing on specific climate objectives, including 
the clean energy transition and climate change adaptation, while paying particular attention to 
developing country perspectives. The W orking Group will build on and complement discussions in 
other Working Groups to provide for a comprehensive contribution on these issues.  
1.7.  The Working Group on Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) will continue an 
objective -based approach and examine sec tor-specific issues involved in the promotion and 
facilitation of trade in EGS, as well as the identification of climate -friendly technologies. Particular 
attention will be given to issues of interest to developing countries . Where appropriate, the Working  
Group will examine cross -sectoral approaches  with regard to EGS. Under the objective of climate 
change mitigation and adaptation, the Group will continue its work on renewable energy and add 
other sectors  or technologies related to climate change , includi ng adaptation  and mitigation . The  
Working  Group will further develop the analytical summary as an outcome  document , covering 
indicative lists of relevant goods and services, trade barriers,  including non -tariff barriers, and supply 
chain bottlenecks, devel oping country perspectives, and opportunities and approaches to promote 
and facilitate trade in these goods and services, and explore concrete actions  that Members could 
further undertake . 
1.8.  The Working Group on Circular Economy – Circularity will continue i ts work on trade -related 
issues of circular economy along the entire lifecycle of products. Members will prioriti ze their work 
based on trade aspects of circular economy identified in the outcome document of the mapping 
exercise2 – transparency; standards  and regulations; trade facilitation; waste management; capacity 
building and technical assistance; technology and other trade -related aspects for cooperation – with 
reference to the illustrative and non -exhaustive list of possible future work in Table 5.  Members will 
deepen their understanding on different approaches to circular economy and share relevant policy 
experiences. In carrying out this work, the Working Group may take a sector -specific approach .  
1.9.  The Working Group on Subsidies will continue its w ork on the potential positive and negative 
environmental effects of subsidies, as well as their trade impacts. Complementing discussions on 
agricultural subsidies and subsidies related to the transition to a low -carbon economy, the Working 
Group will conti nue a focused and balanced approach, and cover further types of subsidies, including 
subsidies related to biofuels and industrial subsidies. The Group will further develop the compilation 
of experiences and considerations regarding subsidy design as an out come document, with a focus 
on identifying best practices and working towards recommendations on how to enhance 
transparency and data availability .  
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2 Mapping Exercise: Trade and trade policy aspects along the lifecycle of products – 
WT/MIN(24)/ 11/Add.4 . WT/MIN(24)/11/Add.1  
 
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  Annex  
Tentative meeting dates for 2024 following MC13  
Date  TESSD Meeting  
15-16 April Working Groups  
14 and 17 June  Working Groups  
29-30 October  Working Groups  
28 November  Plenary  
 
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