INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
20 September  2022 
(22-7030) Page: 1/8 
Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured 
Discussions  Original : English  
 
  
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS  
MEETING HELD ON 19 AND 20 JULY  2022 
Informal summary by the Coordinators1 
The eighth  plenary meeting of the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions 
(TESSD) was held on 19-20 July  2022. The meeting was chaired by the TESSD Coordinators, Canada 
and Costa Rica.  The agenda for the meeting was contained in document INF/TE/SSD/CN/ 9/Rev. 1. 
In keeping with TESSD's open, transparent and inclusive approach, all WTO  Members had been 
invited to attend the meeting.  
 
1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE COORDINATORS  
1.1.  The TESSD coordinators said that the road to the Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12 ) 
had laid the foundations for work in the second half of 2022 through the creation of four working 
groups reflecting the interests of the diversity of co -sponsors. They highlighted that TESSD had 
grown to 74 co -sponsors representing around 90% of world trade  following Brazil 's and the 
United  Arab Emirates' co -sponsorships. The coordinators noted the importance of moving forward 
on technical elements  of the discussions and continu ing to focus on  the contribution of the WTO  and 
trade policy in identifying concrete actions to address environmental challenges. It was also 
suggested that co -sponsors begin reflecting on tangible outcomes for the high-level stocktaking 
event planned for 1 -2 December 2022 an d for the Thirteenth  WTO Ministerial Conference ( MC13 ). 
Following the remarks by the Coordinators, several delegations took the floor to express their 
positions on the conflict in Ukraine.  
2  TRADE -RELATED CLIMATE MEASURES  
2.1.  The co -facilitators of the working group, Jean -Marie Me raldi (Switzerland) and Göksu Tülümen 
(Türkiye) , provided Members with a summary of the presentations and discussions that had taken 
place in the first meeting of the Working Group on Trade -related Climate Measures on 17 May 2022. 
Presentations had been pr ovided by the World Bank and the United Nations Industrial Development 
Organization ( UNIDO ). Among the elements that Members had raised were definitional elements of 
carbon pricing, implicit and explicit carbon -pricing policies, development levels , and reflecting 
national circumstances and efforts , including common but differentiated responsibilities  and 
nationally determined contributions ( NDCs ) under the United Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change  (UNFCCC ), the avoidance of trade distortions , and access to finance . Members had 
also considered a discuss ion paper by the United States on  climate change - circular economy, and 
shared experiences with regard to carbon pricing and decarbonization efforts.  
2.2.  The co -facilitators suggested that the questio n of embedded emissions of traded goods and 
how Members are using trade policies to incentivize decarboni zation could be a focus of the working 
group . They had also indicated that carbon pricing had specifically come forward from past meetings 
as an issue of particular interest. To support such discussions and improve the understanding of 
ongoing efforts in multilateral fora, the co -facilitators suggeste d that the next meeting could include 
presentations on carbon pricing by international organization such as the IMF, OECD and WTO . In 
addition, the next meeting could be a good opportunity to learn more about plans by the G7 to 
establish a climate club and  consider the issue of carbon standards. Regarding outcomes, the 
 
1 This summary, prepared and circulated under the Coordinators' responsibility, provides a 
non-exhaustive, illustrative review of the issues addressed by Members at the meeting.  INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
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  facilitators suggested that Members could work towards creating a compilation of best practices or 
guidelines for the design of national measures.  
2.3.  Members welcomed discussions on carbon clubs that had been suggested at the previous 
meeting, including on approaches to encourage carbon pricing , approaches  that ensure d 
comparability with implicit carbon pricing , and which could lead to enhanced trade in technology, 
innovation, and inc entiviz e sustainable outcomes . It was suggested that such discussions should 
consider WTO rules and international obligations , including under multilateral environmental 
agreements . Outcomes of the discussions could then inform Members as they to pursue ta ngible 
outcomes in the WTO. As a first outcome, a Member suggested that a compilation of discussions 
could be produced to identify trade policy barriers and opportunities to address these. A nother 
Member noted that such discussions should remain inclusive,  transparent, and open to all 
WTO Members . 
2.4.  Several Members highlighted the importance of addressing carbon leakage. It was noted that 
Members had different approaches to reduc ing emissions, and that equity and fairness should be 
central considerations to mitigate risks of leakage. Discussions on this topic were suggested to 
explore different approaches that could be adopted, including the impact of non -pricing measures 
that could complement the transition towards decarbonizing industry and business.  
2.5.  Several Members highlighted that eliminating carbon leakage required a global carbon price. 
To this end, several Members illustrated the benefits of greater cooperation with stakeholde rs and 
international bodies  with regards to decarbonization efforts, including for priority sectors for 
developing countries . A Member noted that such cooperation could encourage the creation of a global 
monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system  on carbon pricing. In addition, several Members 
noted that discussions could delve deeper into analysing  carbon standards and methodologies to 
account for carbon content and to evaluate mitigation efforts, including determining where risks for 
carbon leak age exist ed. It was noted that any carbon pricing methods  should  be consistent with 
WTO rules  and international commitments under the UNFCCC , avoid trade distortions and not lead 
to additional costs. To advance the discussions, it was suggested that Member s focus on basic 
concepts to build a common understanding and find common solutions  that could, inter alia, 
establish principles to minimize discrimination against imported products, recognize carbon -pricing 
mechanisms and efforts to certify carbon content , and serve to enhance technical assistance and 
capacity building for developing countries . It was noted by a Member that measuring carbon pricing 
and carbon content was discriminatory and a disguised restriction on trade, and should not be 
discussed withi n TESSD.  
2.6.  A Member suggested  that discussions on trade -related climate measures should include 
agriculture. It was noted that agriculture, forestry , and other land uses account ed for almost 30 % 
of global emissions, equivalent to heat and electricity production, and that addressing agriculture 
and land use emissions ha d a key role to play in achieving net -zero emissions by 2050.  
2.7.  A Member said that the TESSD Work Plan for 2022 included the objective of increasing 
transparency. The Member su ggested that Members could provide information on their intended 
measures and their objectives, so that Members could share experiences with similar tools and 
instruments. This would allow developing countries and LDCs to better prepare for such measures. 
In turn,  efforts to increase transparency in TESSD could be replicated in the Committee on Trade 
and Environment (C TE) with regard to trade -related climate measures. Another Member suggested 
that efforts to increase transparency with regard to existing and  planned measures could be reflected 
in Trade Policy Review s.  
2.8.  Several Members shared their views regarding potential outcomes from the discussions in the 
working group. A Member suggested that a written report should be prepared to summari ze key 
points of  the discussions , which would provide pathways for deliverables for 2023. Another Member 
suggested that discussions were still in a preliminary stage and that further  discussions were 
necessary before identifying concrete outcomes.  
2.9.  The representative of A ustralia provided an update with regard to national efforts to reduce 
emissions by 43 % by 2030. Australia had included this target in an enhanced NDC under the 
Paris Agreement and was working to implement the measures to reach this target, as well as worki ng INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
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  with regional partners to increase climate finance and strengthen partnerships to reduce emissions 
across all sectors of the economy.  
2.10.   Stakeholders highlighted their efforts and shared views on how to promote engagement  and 
understanding on trade and climate change. The representative of the Forum on Trade, Environment 
and the SDGs (TESS) suggested that discussions could focus on how international cooperation on 
trade c ould support adaptation efforts and  noted an upcoming pub lication that identified access to 
electricity and resilience -building as strategic objectives across developing countries. Regarding 
outcomes, he highlighted the benefits of soft law, guidelines , and voluntary pledges to facilitate the 
design and implemen tation of trade -related climate measures. The representative of the 
Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD)  highlighted the recent launch of 
the Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA) aimed at  facilitat ing an 
evidence -based exchange of information on different efforts to reach net -zero emissions, which 
would include a stocktaking of current measures and their effectiveness.  
3  ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND SERVICES  
3.1.  The representative of the United Kingdom provided a presentation on the impact of technical 
barriers to trade (TBT) on environmental goods . The presentation aimed to improve the 
understanding of relevant barriers that could lead to improved collaboration in addressing 
imbalances in TBT and better regulatory cooperation  to ensure high levels of safety and more 
efficient trade . Through case studies on components for wind turbines and solar panels, the 
presentation highlighted that : (i) technical barriers decreased trade in environment al goods but with 
varying impacts  depending on the exporting and importing countries ; (ii) incidences of duplication 
or divergence led multiple importing Members to impose similar technical requirements to the 
exporting country ; and (iii) that high levels of regulation reduce d the number and diversification of 
trade flows  in environmental goods . It was suggested that trade in environmental goods could be 
facilitated by : (i) discussing the reduction of imbalances of TBT through assistance to developing 
count ries; (ii) assessing duplicated requirements to promote harmonization and minimizing regional 
biases ; (iii) analysing which developing country exporters h eld comparative advantages in 
environmental goods and which were impacted by TBT; (iv) engaging with b usiness to improve 
understandings of TBT for exporters ; and (v) improving data to fully understand the impact of TBT.  
3.2.  The facilitators of the Working Group on Environmental Goods and Services  (EGS) , Carlos 
Guevara (Ecuador) and Helga Helland (Norway) , informed Members of discussions that had taken 
place during the first working group meeting, in which Members had shared their priorities for future 
discussions and heard a presentation from the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ). 
Memb ers had suggested that a focus on non-tariff barriers ( NTBs) would also be useful to the 
discussions, as well as technology access and development, promoting sustainable supply chains, 
building institutional infrastructure, and market access for goods, ser vices, and investment.  
3.3.  For the next meeting, the co -facilitators suggested deepening the focus with regard to climate 
change mitigation and environmental services.  With regard to mitigation, discussions could include 
examples and characteristics of key go ods, services and technologies, non -tariff measures  and 
regulatory issues  as well as developing country needs and priorities . Regarding environmental 
services, facilitators suggested that a presentation by the Secretariat on discussions in the Council 
for Trade in Services Special Session (CTS -SS) could help Members develop a common 
understanding and how TESS D could complement this work, while regional experiences with trade 
in environmental services could be brought in through a presentation by the APEC Se cretariat.  
3.4.  Members welcomed the  idea of a staged approach, where Members would discuss objectives 
and sectors sequentially, and to focus discussions first on goods and services that could help achieve 
climate goals . Several Members noted that such an appr oach could avoid definitional challenges  and, 
alternatively, the use of internationally recognized labels or standards could help facilitate the 
recognition of environmental goods or services.  Certain Members indicated their preference to focus 
on EGS related to climate change mitigation and , specifically , those that directly contribute d to 
reducing greenhouse gas emissions , whereas certain Members  indicated  the preference of 
developing countries to discuss climate change adaptation.  Member s noted that other objectives for 
their discussions could also include biodiversity loss or pollution.  INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
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  3.5.  Member s provided several  topics that could be included in  future  discussions  under the 
objective of climate change , noting, inter alia , green infrastruc ture and sustainably supply chains, 
energy -efficient smart grids, energy storage, alternative energy, waste management and recycling , 
direct air capture , carbon capture usage and storage , and e -fuels.  A few  Members also made 
reference to the communication by Australia of July 2021 (INF/TE/SSD/W/16), which provided 
examples for elements that could be discussed in the Working Group on Environmental Goods and 
Services , including trade facilitation  and government procurement.  
3.6.  Regarding services, Members sugges ted building on the work of the CTS -SS to avoid a 
duplication of efforts . A Member noted that discussions on services were less advanced than those 
on goods, which could warrant a separate track of discussions. Members welcomed the suggestion 
of a briefing  on the state of play of discussions in the CTS -SS. A Member suggested mapping the 
sectors and subsectors that could contribute to environmental objectives, including through a scope 
broader than that identified in Section 94 of the Provisional Central Product Classification.   
3.7.  Several Members welcomed the suggestion to focus on non -tariff measures  (NTMs) , noting that 
tariffs on  environmental goods  were currently low and that addressing NTMs could accelerate the 
dissemination of such goods. Addressing  NTMs could  also help promote supply chain resilience, the 
development of new goods a nd technologies, encourage product diffusion, and increase the 
transparency of domestic regulations. It was noted that exchanging information on regulations, 
standards, and conformity assessment could assist in advancing environmental policy objectives. By 
promoting the circular economy, facilitating investment in environmental goods and technologies, 
and through government procurement, the dissemination and adoption of EGS could be accelerated. 
To advance the discussions, it was suggested that Members coul d catalogue how NTBs impact ed 
trade through restrictions, testing procedures and import licensing, technical regulation, and 
customs codes.  
3.8.  Several Members provided their views with regard to deliverables for the high -level stocktaking 
event of 1 -2 Decembe r 2022. A Member noted that TESSD participants could be tasked with 
identifying one environmental objective and designing a framework for future negotiations ahead of 
MC13, whereas another Member noted that discussions should first build common understandi ngs 
on the challenges hindering the deployment and dissemination of EGS. It was also noted that 
outcomes should be inclusive and particularly represent the views of developing countries and LDCs.  
3.9.  The representative of the TESS suggested that working backw ards from the environmental 
objective towards identifying the relevant goods or services could require a focus on standards, 
regulations, NTMs , or investment. Such an approach could include objectives such as 
decarbonization, climate  adaptation , or plastic pollution . It was also suggested that a non -market 
access discussion would require addressing issues such as regulatory measures, trade and 
investment facilitation, government procurement, technology transfer, and technical assistance and 
capacity building. The representative of the World Economic Forum (WEF) provided an update with 
regard to a report on climate goods and services to be release d in September 2022, which  would  
propose a reference list of climate goods, examine non -tariff barrier s, and identify services relevant 
to the identified climate goods. The representative of the United  Nations Economic Commission for 
Europe (UNECE) informe d Members of efforts to enhance  sustainable traceability in textiles and 
footwear, which could serve as an example to promote sustainable solutions and the transparency 
of value chains in relevant sectors.  
4  CIRCULAR ECONOMY – CIRCULARITY  
4.1.  The facilitators o f the Working Group on Circular Economy – Circularity, Olivia Cook (Chile) and 
Kazunari Morii (Japan), summarized the previous meeting of the working group. They said that 
presentations  made by industry representatives  and stakeholders  had indicated the need for holistic 
approaches and consistent policy frameworks, the introduction of  recycled materials into supply 
chains , address ing administrative requirements and customs procedures , and subsidies  to promote 
the circular economy . Members ha d suggested elements that could be included in future discussions, 
including whole -of-life approaches which also encompass ed emissions , or coherence with multilateral 
instruments  such as the Basel Convention . The co -facilitators suggested that future meeti ngs could 
invite international organizations working in policy analysis, cooperation, and negotiations with 
regard to the circular economy. The co -facilitators suggested that, to advance the discussions , a 
mapping exercise on the different trade aspects an d sectors related to the circular economy  could INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
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  be initiated. This exercise  could serve to build  a broader understanding of the trade -related dynamics 
of the circular economy.  
4.2.  Members welcomed the proposal to conduct a mapping exercise.  It was noted that the 
overarching objective of the exercise should be to identify  potential challenges and opportunities to 
align and strengthen  a resource -efficient circular economy. Members suggested building  on existing 
work and to complement  efforts i n other initiatives, such as the Informal Dialogue on Plastics (IDP).  
A Member suggested that the mapping exercise could include national measures that had been taken 
to advance domestic resource efficiency and circular economy targets  to provide a baselin e 
understanding amongst Members of current measures . From these elements, Members could share 
their experiences with regard to what could constitute a best practi ce. Such discussions, as well as 
presentations from Members, could encourage learning and help  facilitate more circular global trade, 
across the full lifecycle . Several Members also noted that the mapping exercise should play a 
supportive role for developing countries and LDCs, an outcome of which could be to promote 
sustainable waste management pr actices and the incorporation of circular economy practices into 
macroeconomic planning .  
4.3.  A Member noted that the working group could deepen discussions on value -retention 
processes, while being aware of relevant multilateral environmental agreements. To t his end, future 
discussions could prioritize circular design, which would help address downstream impacts to help 
durability, reparability, upgradeability , and recyclability. In particular, focusing on necessary 
standards , such as product passports, and  their harmonization could help improve global circularity.  
4.4.  With regard to waste, a nother  Member suggested that Members could work to wards  creating 
fast-track processes with reduced procedures for high -quality waste recycling to help support 
zero-pollution objectives. Such discussions could be supported through cooperation with the World 
Customs Organization  (WCO) .  
4.5.  Several  Member s suggested that, giv en the interlinkages between trade and circular economy, 
discussions could focus on trade facilitation and leveraging trade deals to facilitate access to goods 
and technologies that could contribute to the circular economy, inter alia , for reverse -supply c hains 
and for goods that support ed climate -related solutions such as decarbonization of energy -intensive 
industries or remanufacturing.  Identifying the supportiveness of WTO and trade rules was suggested 
as a first step towards determining the role of the WTO in supporting a climate -aligned circular 
economy.  
4.6.  Several Members shared their experiences with regard to the circular economy. The 
representative of the Maldives  highlighted that the preservation of the ocean was a national priority 
given its economi c importance from which 60% of its GDP was derived. She said that reducing waste 
was a useful method to reduce energy use and that the Maldives  had banned eight varieties of 
common single -use plastics since 1 June 2022. In addition, partnerships with industry had led to the 
collection of plastic products for value creation.  
4.7.  The representative of Canada  highlighted Canada's experience with regard to regional trade in 
the circular economy in  recovered paper products to build circular supply chains. He also noted 
efforts under the Canada -Mexico -United States Commission for Environmental Cooperation to study 
recycling infrastructure and circular trade with a view to reduc ing the extraction of p rimary resources 
and defining the circular economy.  
4.8.  The representative of Switzerland shared an update on the national legislative process 
regarding the circular economy , noting that, following a national consultation, the national legislature 
was working  to set out the conditions for a domestic circular economy. Efforts were underway to 
revise national laws with a view to implement a new national circular economy policy by the end of 
2023.  
4.9.  The representative of TESS said  that Members could seek closer co llaboration with the WCO to 
contribute to the reform of the HS System. He also suggested  that soft law and fast -tracking of 
procedures could provide solutions in the short -term for industries to accelerate their actions on the 
circular economy . The representative s of the  OECD  and WEF said that  discussions on the circular 
economy in other fora  did not focus on trade -related aspects and that the WTO had an important 
role to play, in particular regarding regulatory fragmentation. It was noted that support for INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
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  developing countries and LDCs through Aid for Trade was underdeveloped and could provide  
opportunities for such countries to engage more actively in the circular economy.  
4.10.   The representative of UNECE  shared takeaways from an event on "Accelerating the Circular 
Economy Transition: Policy Options for Harnessing the Power of Trade and Economic Co operation " 
on 27 June  2022, which had demonstrated the relevance of the circular economy in addressing 
climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. She underlined  that trade could play a key role as 
an enabler of the circular economy, including by pro moting trade in secondary materials, capacity 
building, and facilitating access to investment.  
5  SUBSIDIES  
5.1.  The co -facilitators of the Working Group on Subsidies, Sveinn K. Einarsson (Iceland) and 
Mariana Vera (Uruguay) , shared an overview of the discussion s and the presentations by 
international organizations that had taken place in the first working group meeting. The presentation 
by the OECD had highlighted methodologies for evaluating fossil fuel subsidies  (FFS)  as well as 
existing information and information gaps. The presentation by the United Nations Environment 
Programme ( UNEP ) had summarized the findings of a joint  UNEP -FAO-UNDB  report, noting that food 
systems supported the achievement of at least 12  Sustainable Develo pment Goals (SDGs), that 
government agricultural support policies were not fit for today's food systems, and offered 
suggestions regarding public policy measures for agricultural producers. The co -facilitators further 
highlighted points raised by Members during the discussion, in cluding on definitional aspects, the 
possible scope of the discussions, and the need for transparency.   
5.2.  With regard to next steps, the co -facilitators suggested focusing the next meeting on industrial 
subsidies and the trade -related  aspects of green subsidies  to broaden the scope of discussions based 
on inputs from Members. To deepen common understandings, i t was suggested that the WTO could 
present information available in the Environmental Database with regard to the use of subsidi es by 
Members to achieve environmental objectives. Other stakeholders could be invited to make 
presentations on information availability and analysis regarding industrial and green subsidies, 
whereas Members would be invited to share their experiences.  
5.3.  A number of Members suggested that discussions in the working group should not duplicate 
efforts from the work ongoing in the Committee on Agriculture Special Session ( CoA-SS). It was 
noted that the CoA -SS would be the appropriate forum to discuss agricultur al reform, including those 
with regard to subsidies. Other  Members suggested that TESSD could contribute to the discussions 
and needs of the CoA -SS, due to subsidies in the food sector , which of over  USD 800 billion between 
2019-2021 and the large share of global emissions from the food sector. In addition, it was noted 
that the links between agricultural support and environmental impacts such as deforestation  or 
biodiversity degradation  could be rele vant elements in TESSD . Addressing agricultural subsidies was 
also suggested as an opportunity  to help improve the competitiveness of  developing countries 
without requiring burdensome compliance or distorting  trade . One Member suggested that the 
CoA-SS could be informed on  the progress  of discussions in TESSD.   
5.4.  Members welcomed the broader scope suggested by the co -facilitators to include industrial and 
green subsidies in the discussions. For example, a Member highlighted that emissions from metal 
industrie s represented 10 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. Another Member noted that 
addressing FFS could also present challenges, in particular for developing countries, underlining the 
importance of ensuring that the transition  be gradual and offer inclusive opportunities for sustainable 
development. One Member noted that the FFS  reform initiative had been created exclusively to 
discuss fossil fuel subsidies and that discussions on this topic should be excluded from TESSD to 
avoid duplication.  
5.5.  It was noted that discussions on the broadened scope could begin by first establishing an 
evidence -based understanding of the environmental impacts of such subsidies. A Member noted 
that, although much information existed with regard to subsi dies in different sectors, it would be 
useful for Members to share a common understanding. Members suggested that the broadening of 
scope could also provide opportunities to enhance transparency  and share experiences to explore 
effective means to rationali ze or abolish subsidies , where relevant , based on national circumstances.  INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
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  5.6.  The representative of TESS  suggested that the Working Group on Subsidies could identify which 
forms of support were likely to affect the environment and establish a ranking of probl ematic support 
measures in order to advance the discussions.  
6  STOCKTAKING  
6.1.  Members were invited to take stock of the implementation status of the Ministerial Statement 
and the need to adapt the Work Plan to achieve its full implementation , and to share their views 
regarding  next steps and format of the high-level stocktaking event scheduled for 1 -2 December 
2022.  The Coordinators noted that the Secretariat would prepare a s ummary of discussions , which 
could be supplemented by other outcomes.  
6.2.  Members exp ressed appreciation for the work achieved so far in TESSD and in the WTO to 
enhance the contribution of trade in sustainability, including through the MC12 outcome document 
recognizing climate change  and biodiversity loss and pollution  as global challenge s of importance.  
To this end, several Members suggested that the high -level stocktaking event could provide an 
opportunity to draw further attention to the ways in which  trade policy can support the environment  
and increase momentum ahead of MC13 to demonst rate the progress made within TESSD while 
bringing together the climate and trade communities.  
6.3.  A number of  Members noted that the Work Plan only foresaw one more meeting of the informal 
working groups in 2022, and suggested that an additional meeting could be organized to further 
progress in discussions towards  the high -level event.  
6.4.  A Member noted the achievements at MC12 with regard to trade and environmental 
sustainability. The Member highlighted the growing  recognition of the contribution of trade in 
environmental objectives to encourage more Members to join TESSD. The Member also invited 
TESSD co -sponsors to identify concrete deliverables for the high -level event in December, which 
could serve as a precurso r for tangible outcomes by MC13.  
6.5.  A Member suggested that the high -level event could provide an opportunity for Members to 
discuss the framework for negotiations for goods and services to reach climate goals, provide more 
transparency on trade -related clima te measures in the C TE, identify work to prepare a compilation 
of best practi ces on the circular economy, and consider how the WTO could address the trade impacts 
of subsidies.  
6.6.  Another  Member emphasized the need to turn ideas into the work needed for subst antive 
progress. In particular, addressing climate change required a multifaceted approach combining 
discussion and outcomes across the thematic work  areas in TESSD . With regard to the high -level 
event, the Member suggested that TESSD should continue to focus on implementing its Work Plan 
while identifying opportunities to increase knowledge under these workstreams so Members could 
make informed decisions to facilita te environmental sustainability in the trading system.  
6.7.  The representative of TESS  suggested that a stakeholder day could be organized the day  before 
the high -level stocktaking event.  
7  REGIONAL SESSIONS  
7.1.  Three regional sessions  provided experiences at the intersection of trade, climate change, and 
sustainable development. In the regional session on Asia -Pacific , a presentation by the Pacific Islands 
Forum highlighted the benefits of the implementation of the Vanuatu e-Single Window (VeSW) in 
improv ing the efficiency of border clearance procedures in Vanuatu . The objective of the project was 
to reduce  environmental impacts by integrat ing electronic systems through facilitated trade under 
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ( CITES ) and 
in fuel -efficient products.  The case study of Vanuatu illustrated measures that could be adopted by 
other Members to facilitate trade while reducing environmental impacts.  A pres entation by the 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC) highlighted experiences with trade in EGS . The 
representative of APEC  provided a breakdown of goods included in the APEC List of Environmental 
Goods, which included a plurality  of goods in both "Rene wable Energy Production" and 
"Environmental Monitoring Analysis and Assessment Equipment".  It was noted that global trade in 
environmental goods had peaked in 2021 at USD 541.5 billion due to better affordability, INF/TE/SSD/R/12  
 
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  environmental awareness, and unstable oil prices. With regard to barriers to trade, 40% of non -tariff 
measures applied by APEC economies were export -related measures. Regarding environmental 
services,  the presenter noted that services included in the APEC reference list were those directly 
relatin g to environmental conditions and those environmentally related for design, construction, or 
operation of facilities. A presentation by VIETRADE shared Viet Nam 's efforts to promote green 
competitiveness and sustainability in line with the SDGs, highlighti ng that 20 companies had joined 
voluntary sustainable standards.  
7.2.  In the regional session on Africa, the African Development Bank (AfDB) shared perspectives 
on the circular economy through examples of capacity -building efforts and technical assistance , 
based on findings from a survey on national circular economy roadmaps . The A fDB noted efforts by 
African countries to extend the circular economy into national development planning , which were 
accounted for in eight African countries. It was noted that , to scale circular businesses in Africa, 
more financing and technical assistance w ere needed, as well as  connections with the public sector. 
However, scaling the circular economy in Africa provided opportunities for sustainable job creation 
and development , in particular through the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area 
(AfCFTA ), which could expand Africa's economy to USD 29 trillion by 2050 . The Global Shea Alliance 
highlighted the interaction between  trade and sustainable development through t he example of shea 
products, which supported economic growth by creating 20,000  jobs for women in parkland 
management and the protection of more than 5,000  hectares of parklands, in turn helping carbon 
recapture by trees.  The Earth Builders Association sha red its experience of south-south technological 
collaboration to develop innovative building tools that could reduce the use of cement and promote 
sustainable alternatives  in the construction of homes .  
7.3.  The session on Latin America  and the Caribbean saw pr esentations by the International 
Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Agroicone, UNCTAD -CITES , and Paccari . The 
presentation by IICA highlighted the contribution of the bioeconomy in promoting economic and 
social growth, including as a tool for  decarbonization through alternative technologies such as 
biofuels and biomass. The presentation by Agroicone highlighted the experience of the private sector 
in Brazil with regard to the mutual supportiveness between agriculture and sustainable developmen t 
through the contribution of technology in enhancing innovativeness  and competitiveness and  
increasing agricultural yields . A joint presentation by the United Nations Conference on Trade and 
Development ( UNCTAD ) and CITES described the protection of the q ueen conch value chain through 
Blue Biotrade, a programme to commercialize goods and services according to sustainability 
guidelines  including the  conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity . The queen conch value 
chain represented USD  74 million in regulated trade in sectors including food, biochemicals, and 
eco-tourism. The presentation highlighted the example of the Blue Biotrade programme as a tool to 
ensure sustainable, legal, and traceab le trade. The presentation by Paccari  highlighted efforts by the 
company to responsibly source and sustainably produce and market products from the cocoa value 
chain, including through joining voluntary sustainability standards, using compostable packaging , 
and working to reduce emissions by transitioning to renewable energy sources.  
8  CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COORDINATORS AND NEXT STEPS  
8.1.  The TESSD Coordinators welcomed the positive reactions to the progress in TESSD as a 
recognition of the role of trade in a ddressing environmental challenges. They highlighted the growth 
of TESSD since early discussions took place in 2020 and the results achieved, including the 
recognition at MC12 for trade to contribute to sustainability.  Ambassador Abraham  Peralta  
(Costa  Rica) encouraged Members to continue to work together and concentrate efforts on common 
objectives to achieve substantive and beneficial outcomes. Ambassador de Boer (Canada) noted the 
importance of cooperation at the intersection of trade and environmental issues to improve 
opportunities and quality of life for citizens and thanked the contribution of stakeholders in enriching 
the discussions. Ahead of their departure from Geneva, t he Ambassadors were thanked for their 
leadership since the launch of  the initiative which has seen good growth  in participation  as well as 
increasing  depth of discussions .  
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