WT/CTE/26  
 
9 December 2019  
(19-8468) Page: 1/11 
   
 
 
REPORT (201 9) OF THE COMMITTEE O N TRADE AND ENVIRONM ENT 
 
In 2019 , under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Representative  of France ,  
Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam , the Committee on Trade and Environment in Regular Session (CTE) held 
two formal meetings, on 15 May1 and on 26 and 27 November .2  
The work of the CTE was organized in accordance with the mandate established by the 
Doha Ministerial  Declaration, Paragraphs  32, 33 and 51.3 Discussions took pla ce mainly on 
environmental requirements and market access issues under Paragraph 32(i) ("The effect of 
environmental measures on market access, especially in relation to developing countries, in 
particular 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"). Other items addressed by the CTE were item 14, item 25, item 46, item 97 and 
Paragra ph 33 (technical assistance, capacity building and environmental reviews).  
No discussion took place under Paragraph 32(ii) (relevant provisions of the 
TRIPS  Agreement); Paragraph 32(iii) (labelling requirements for environmental purposes); and 
Paragraph  51 (developmental and environmental aspects of the negotiations).  
1   PARAGRAPH 32  OF THE DOHA MINISTER IAL DECLARATION  
1.1  Environmental measures and market access (Paragraph 32 (i) of the Doha Ministerial 
Declaration)   
"The effect of environmental measures on mar ket access, especially in relation to developing 
countries, in particular 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. " 
 
1.1.1   Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reform  (FFSR)  
1.1.  At the May meeting, New Zealand  presented on recent developments on FFS reform and on an 
event organized with UN Environment back -to-back with the meeting on the newly agreed 
interagency methodology for collecting FFS data. New Zealand recalled the 11th WTO Ministerial 
Conference (MC11) statement on FFS reform and its 12 signatories' position that the WTO can play 
 
1 Available through WT/CTE/M/67 , "Report of the Meeting held on 15 May 2019 ", Note by the Secretariat.  
2 To be circulated through WT/CTE/M/68 , "Report of the Meeting held on 26-27 November 201 9", Note 
by the Secretariat.  
3 The CTE Work Programme and the parts of the Doha Development Agenda that are relevant to the work 
of the CTE Regular are included in Annexes 1 and 2 respectively.  
4 Item 1 of the CTE Work Programme reads: "The relationship between the provisions of the mu ltilateral 
trading system and trade measures for environmental purposes, including those pursuant to multilateral 
environmental agreements."  
5 Item 2 of the CTE Work Programme reads:  "The relationship between environmental policies relevant 
to trade and en vironmental measures with significant trade effects and the provisions of the multilateral 
trading system. " 
6 Item 4  of the CTE Work Programme reads: "The provisions of the multilateral trading system with respect 
to the transparency of trade measures used  for environmental purposes and environmental measures and 
requirements which have significant trade effects."  
7 Item 9 of the CTE Work Programme reads: "The work programme envisaged in the Decision on Trade 
in Services and the Environment."  WT/CTE/26  
 
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  a central role in achieving effective disciplines on inefficient fossil fuel subsidies . At the November  
meeting, New Zealand  further briefed delegations on a side -event held during the 2019 Public Forum 
addressing a potential collective approach to FFSR in the WTO, as well as on the intention of the 
MC11 statement signatories to renew the declara tion and broaden its support at MC12 in 2020.  
1.2.  Several delegations acknowledged the importance of FFSR and recognized the role of the 
WTO to assess the trade effects of fossil fuel subsidies.  Some other delegations restated their 
objections to discussing FF SR in the CTE,  noting that th is was a voluntary initiative for phasing out 
of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage d wasteful consumption  under the G20, which was  
the appropriate venue to discuss it.  One delegation further considered that effort s should be focused 
on trade -distortive subsidies within the WTO's sphere of competence with major impact on 
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions , such as agricultur al subsidies . One delegation noted the growing 
global momentum and awareness raising on FFSR and welcomed further experience sharing in the 
CTE with a view to exploring potential venues for reform.  
1.1.2   Palm Oil  
1.3.  At the May meeting, Colombia  briefed delegates  on current sustainability and biodiversity 
efforts in the Colombian oil palm sector, including a pilot project aiming to avoid deforestation and 
enhance biodiversity synergies in oil palm plantations. The environmental footprint of palm oil 
depended on wh ere and how crops were grown. Colombia also stressed the costs associated with 
certification for small farmers. At the meeting, Ecuador  briefly explained the sustainability efforts in 
the palm oil sector in the country. Socially a priority sector for Ecuad or, with 87% of palm oil 
producers being small farm holders, palm oil cultivation and commercialization systems had been 
strengthened through policies and standards.  
1.4.  Finally, Malaysia  updated delegations on its efforts to support palm oil producers to comp ly 
with international certification systems for sustainably -produced palm oil. Noting the requirements 
of different sustainability certification schemes applied to palm oil production, Malaysia emphasized 
that an unchallengeable reputation for sustainabili ty was the key to economic stability, technical 
advancement, competitiveness and access to international markets.  
1.5.  Several delegations welcome d the commitment to strengthening sustainability in palm oil 
production. One delegation recognized that palm oil p roduction was a source of growth and 
employment, but considered it also faced challenges concerning deforestation, biodiversity loss, GHG 
emissions, and water management. Another delegation stressed that the environmental impact of 
oil palm plantations was  an issue of growing consumer concern but affirmed that trade policy could 
be used to address them, including in the context of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs). One 
delegation noted discussions on palm oil in the CTE illustrated the importance of ensuring  a proper 
balance between environmental and trade concerns.  
1.1.3   Interconnection between Trade, Sustainable and Inclusive Development  
1.6.  At the May meeting, New Zealand  updated the Committee on its Trade for All initiative, 
including initial results from a country -wide public consultation, which called for trade policy to 
promote sustainability, labour rights and gender equity. New  Zealand also briefed delegates on other 
efforts on the same issue, including a zero -carbon bill, reform of environmentally harmful and trade -
distorting subsidies , a framework for analysing trade's impact on productivity, sustainability and 
inclusiveness and a joint declaration signed with Chile and Canada to support inclusive and 
sustainable trade action including at the WTO. Canada , Chile and the European Union  shared 
information on similar efforts to integrate inclusiveness considerations in their trade policies.  
1.1.4   Environmental Standards  
1.7.  At the May meeting, t he International Organization for Standardization (ISO)  briefed 
delegations on its recent work on environmental standards, including Environmental Technology 
Verification, Environmental Performance Evaluation for green financing and Requirements for 
GHG Emissions Validation and Verification Bodies. Several del egations took the floor to express their 
support to the development of environmental international standards by the ISO, noting their 
relevance for the promotion of sustainable trade, production and consumption. They welcomed 
similar reports to the Committ ee in the future.  WT/CTE/26  
 
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  1.1.5   Trade in Jute  
1.8.  At the November  meeting, Bangladesh  made a presentation on trade in jute for environment 
sustainability. Noting the environmental advantages of using jute as a n alternative to plastic and 
fossil-based options  in different sectors , Bangladesh enumerated a number of tariff and non -tariff 
barriers that could be addressed to facilitate its trade. Several delegations welcomed the discussion  
of the issue in the CTE. One delegation mentioned  the possibility of considering jute -based products 
as environmental goods in trade agreements. One delegatio n also highlighted  the environmental 
benefits of trade in other natural fibres, such as abaca and coconut fibres.  
1.1.6   Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (or ACCTS) initiative  
1.9.  At the November  meeting, New Zealand  briefed delegates on the ACCT S initiative launched on 
25 September with Norway, Iceland, Costa Rica and Fiji. The initiative aimed to demonstrate in 
practical terms how trade rules and institutions  could be used to support climate and broader 
sustainable development objectives while g enerating momentum towards an eventual multilateral 
outcome. Negotiations amongst the initial participants would begin in 2020 and New Zealand would 
keep CTE delegations informed of progress . Participants were open to engage with interested 
Members. While noting i ts support for the multilateral trading system , another co -sponsor  reinforced 
the invitation for other Members to join. Another delegation stated its longstanding position that 
trade and climate change objectives were mutually supportive and looked  forward for more details 
on this initiative.  
2  OTHER ITEMS ON THE CTE'S W ORK PROGRAMME (IT EMS 1, 2, 3(A), 4, 5 , 7, 9, AND  10)8 
2.1  Multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and WTO (Item 1 of the CTE Work 
Programme)  
"The relationship between the provisions o f the multilateral trading system and trade 
measures for environmental purposes, including those pursuant to multilateral 
environmental agreements."  
2.1.1   Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 
(CITES)  
2.1.1.1   MEA's update  
2.1.  At the May meeting, the  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild 
Fauna and Flora (CITES)  briefed delegations  on preparations for the 18th Conference of the Parties 
(CoP), including issues of particular relevance to trade delegates  such as: a proposed resolution to 
examine the relationship between GATT and CITES provisions ; simplified procedures to facilitate 
trade in certain species ; guidelines on how to  determine that a species had been legally acquired 
and who had the burden of proo f; implications of the transfer of a species to Appendix I ; and the 
use of digital signatures and blockchain  to certify trade in CITES species. At the November  meeting, 
CITES briefed delegations on the results of CoP 18, which included: new species introdu ced in CITES 
Appendi ces I and  II; resolutions clarifying the role of national management authorities and guiding 
principles on legal acquisitions; and new decisions to facilitate and expedite legal and sustainable 
trade in covered species. During the discu ssion at both meetings, several delegations recognized the 
importance of CITES for sustainable legal trade in wildlife . One delegation further noted that CITES 
CoPs illustrated  how MEAs  could achieve significant progress in the trade and environment contex t. 
Another delegation stressed the need for support and capacity building for least developed countries  
(LDCs)  to combat illegal trade in wildlife and support local communities in conservation efforts.  
2.1.1.2   Members' experience sharing  
2.2.  At the November  meeting, Canada  briefed delegations on its landmark prohibition on import s 
and export s of unattached shark fins. The measure was part of Canadian and international efforts 
to curb the environmentally harmful practice of shark finning. Canada also shared how the issu e had 
been addressed in its recent free trade agreements. One delegation welcomed the new measure, 
 
8 See Annex 1,  the original CTE work programme which includes these items.  WT/CTE/26  
 
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  including its implementation through trade agreements, and shared its own initiatives to address 
shark finning.  
2.1.2   MEAs dealing with chemicals and wastes (the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm 
(BRS) Conventions)  
2.1.2.1   MEA's update  
2.3.  At the November  meeting, the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions (UNEP)  
briefed delegations on the results of the last CoP held in May 2019, which included: a decision to 
cover trade in certain plastics wastes under the Basel Convention legal framework from 2021; the 
establishment of the Basel Convention Partnership on Plastic Waste; the introduction of new 
chemicals under the Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions ; the adoption of a compliance 
mechanism under the Rotterdam Convention; and several future trade -related actions such as 
synergies in combatting illegal traffic as well as enhanced cooperation and coordination with the 
WTO. One delegation welcomed the pos itive results achieved while stressing its hope that a 
compliance mechanism for the Stockholm Convention would also be adopted soon.  
2.1.2.2   Members' experience sharing: circular economy and plastics  
2.4.  At the November  meeting, China  briefed the committee on the work shop on plastic pollution 
co-organized with Morocco and Sri Lanka on 25 November 2019. A recurring theme had been the 
globalized nature of plastic production, consumption and pollution, and the need for more and better 
international cooperation to combat p lastic pollution. In this regard, it was noted that the WTO could 
play an important role in helping Members overcome this pressing and mounting challenge. A WTO 
Secretariat study on the relationship between the global plastic economy, plastic pollution and  the 
trading system had been suggested as a possible follow -up, along with continued discussions at the 
WTO.  
2.5.  Morocco  further noted that the workshop discussions had brought to the fore the importance 
of tackling plastic pollution and called for the WTO to play an active role in sharing best practices 
and revitalizing solidarity among WTO Members, taking into account that plastic demand is set to 
increase, notably in Africa.  Sri Lanka called for international trade policies to support national efforts 
to red uce plastics production and consumption while encouraging alternatives, and for trade capacity 
building to support efforts in developing countries to reduce plastic pollution.  
2.6.  China  also provided an overview of its practice on circular economy with a focus  on plastics 
recycling. To achieve results in this area, it was necessary to transform the mindset of participants 
along the entire value chain. China was working on strengthening relevant infrastructure and 
municipal waste management, improving the design  of products to facilitate recycling, promoting 
high value recycled goods and building partnerships among stakeholders, among other initiatives.  
2.7.  Norway  explained its current policy on circular economy and it s plan to develop a national 
strategy to introduc e circular economy more broadly across sectors. In addition, Norway welcomed 
the 2019 amendment to include plastic waste in the Basel Convention and noted that Nordic 
ministers had called for a global agreement to combat marine plastic litter and microplas tics. There 
are gaps in the global governance structure with regard to reducing plastic pollution in the oceans. 
One part of the work and solution could be to raise awareness in the WTO, and in particular the  CTE. 
2.8.  Switzerland  reported that its cooperation with Colombia on e -waste recycling had contributed 
to the adoption in Colombia of a relevant strategy, legislation and national standard, as well as to 
the emergence of e -waste recycling companies with export activities, associations and trained 
profession als, among other achievements . Colombia  underscored the role of Swiss cooperation in 
developing a circular economy in Colombia, including through its support for improving the 
environmental, economic and social performance of industrial parks in the countr y. 
2.9.  The European Union provided an overview of the achievements under its 2015 -2019 Circular 
Economy Action Plan. All 54 actions under the plan had been delivered or were being implemented 
even if work on some would continue beyond 2019. Among the actions h ighlighted were a new 
working plan on eco -design, the development of methods for product environmental footprints, a 
revised waste legislative framework and rules on single -use plastic items and fishing gear to combat WT/CTE/26  
 
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  marine litter. The European Union also  highlighted the open challenges and the next steps envisaged 
by the Von Der Leyen Commission under the European Green New Deal.  
2.10.   The United States  provided an overview of its submission on "Circular Economy and the WTO", 
contained in document RD/CTE/153. T he United States invited other delegations to revisit the WTO's 
previous work on trade facilitation and global value chains, and to consider the questions contained 
in its document, including on how taking a trade facilitation approach to the circular econ omy could 
advance the economic and environmental interests of WTO Members.  
2.11.   Costa Rica  reported on a workshop co -organized with Finland and entitled "Circular Economy 
and Trade - Advancing Economic Development and Combating Climate Change", which had taken 
place on 25 November 2019. The discussions had underlined that a fair and enabling en vironment 
could support businesses in moving towards greater circularity, and that solutions to scale up circular 
business practices had to be tailored to local circumstances. The WTO could play a significant role 
as part of a framework to implement a circ ular economy.  
2.12.   Canada  reported on a workshop on circular economy and the business perspective organized 
by the group of Friends for Advancing Sustainable Trade (FAST) on 26 November 2019. The 
discussions showed that businesses were moving towards the circul ar economy and that 
governments would be well advised to take the necessary steps to take full advantage of the circular 
economy transition, not least by considering ways to ensure that their trade policies were fully 
supportive of the circular economy.  
2.13.   Several delegations noted the links between circular economy, trade, development and the 
transition to a low carbon economy and highlighted domestic initiatives to promote a circular 
economy, including with respect to plastic. One delegation welcomed the ado ption under the Basel 
Convention of an amendment on plastic waste and another delegation noted the impact of fossil fuel 
subsidies on the competitiveness of virgin plastics relative to recycled ones. Regarding the workshop 
on plastic pollution organized by  China, Sri Lanka and Morocco, several delegations noted their 
interest in continuing discussions on this topic.  
2.14.   One delegation speaking on behalf of the LDC Group called for action at the WTO to ensure 
the mutual supportiveness between trade and environme ntal sustainability and invited all partners 
to support efforts by LDCs to achieve sustainable development, help unleash their full potential and 
adapt to a low carbon economy. The circular economy offered a promising avenue to tackle plastic 
and other for ms of pollution. It was necessary to strengthen international cooperation and to 
consider the level of development and other specificities of LDCs to ensure that the transition to a 
circular economy would be inclusive and would help address the challenges faced by the LDCs, not 
least the issue of waste received from abroad.  
2.15.   The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)  shared information on 
recent developments on its four work streams related to circular economy: macroeconomic 
modelling o f the impacts of a transition towards circular economy; plastics; digitalization and the 
circular economy; and policy alignment between trade and circular economy. The ISO briefed 
delegations on recent and planned work under the Technical Committee 323 (TC  323) on circular 
economy established in 2018. TC 323 had met for the first time in 2019 and would work on principles, 
guidelines, measurements and alternative business models for circular economy in 2020. Noting that 
the shift towards circularity would re quire a transformation of industrial processes, the United 
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)  briefed delegations on its work related to eco -
industrial parks, sustainable cities and infrastructure, as well as circular and responsible business 
models.  
2.16.   The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)  provided a briefing on its circular economy 
work, including the outcome of  the 4th United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA 4). UNEP 
shared examples from two specific value chains in which its work to implement the conceptual 
restructuring towards circular economic systems had been put into practice: e -waste valorisation in 
Nigeria and plastic value chain engagement in cooperation with the Ellen MacArthur foundation. The 
International Trade Centre (ITC)  briefed delegations on its work to promote resource efficiency and 
circular economy in developing count ries, including the concrete trade -related challenges and 
opportunities faced by a Tunisian textiles and garment company aiming to significantly reduce its WT/CTE/26  
 
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  environmental footprint. Finally, the World Customs Organization (WCO)  shared recent internal 
discus sions on how the institution and customs officials could support reverse supply chains.  
2.17.   The WTO Secretariat  provided information on the links between trade and circular economy. 
WTO Members had notified measures related to the circular economy, including t echnical regulations 
and conformity assessment procedures, government support measures, licensing requirements and 
government procurement policies. The Secretariat noted that issues related to the circular economy  
had come up in the context of  WTO activiti es related to transparency and peer review, policy 
dialogue, negotiations and trade -related capacity building. The Secretariat was encouraged to 
provide Members with more information on trade and circular economy.  
2.18.   Several delegations commended the valuable  work on circular economy shared by the 
observer institutions. One delegation queried UNEP about its work on presenting viable alternatives 
to plastic products, while another requested that the challenges faced by LDCs be addressed to 
ensure their particip ation in the circular economy. One delegation shared its plan to focus on the 
environmental impacts related to  the fashion sector and noted it would work in cooperation with 
relevant stakeholders. Another delegation queried about the possibility of includi ng organic cotton 
from "cotton fou r" (C4) countries in sustainable textile value chains and whether the new African 
Free Trade Zone could offer opportunities in that sense.  
2.19.   The CTE Chair  noted that several suggestions for further work had been made during the 
meeting, including more information to be prepared by the WTO Secretariat and further discussion 
on the topic. The Chair informed that he would consult with the Secretariat and interested 
delegations.  
2.2   Environmental protection and the trading system  (Item 2 of the CTE Work 
Programme ) 
"The relationship between environmental policies relevant to trade and environmental 
measures with significant trade effects and the provisions of the multilateral trading system."  
2.2.1   Nexus Between Trade and Climate Change in  the Implementation of the 
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) Trade and Environment Chapter  
2.20.   At the May meeting,  Canada  and the European Union  presented on how the nexus between 
trade and climate change was taken up in the implementation of t he CETA Trade and Environment 
Chapter . The objectives of the Chapter  – which also covered trade and labour – were to support 
sustainable development, strengthen environmental governance, build on international 
environmental agreements , and complement the goals of CETA . They highlighted the reinforced 
disciplines on trade and climate change and related cooperatio n, as well as institutional 
arrangements to ensure civil society involvement, including through a dedicated Trade and 
Sustainable Development (TSD) Committee. The role of the Committee was to oversee the 
implementation of the TSD disciplines , including rev iew of the impacts of CETA on sustainable 
development, and to facilitate cooperative activities.  CETA also established a Civil Society Forum  
which would include a balanced representation of relevant interests, including independent 
representatives of emplo yers, unions, labour and business organizations, environmental 
organizations, and other civil society representatives as appropriat e.  
2.21.   Several delegations stressed the value of this experience sharing exercise and the importance 
of consistency between trad e and climate change action. One delegation stated that interactions 
between trade and environment were complementary in stimulating growth  since trade could 
generate more resources that could contribute to  the protection of the environment and combat 
climate change . One delegation reiterated its view that the topic needed to be discussed in the 
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was the only forum to 
discuss climate change issues . WT/CTE/26  
 
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  2.3   Transparency of environment -related trad e measures (Item 4 of the CTE Work 
Programme)  
"The provisions of the multilateral trading system with respect to the transparency of trade 
measures used for environmental purposes and environmental measures and requirements 
which have significant trade eff ects." 
2.3.1   WTO Environmental Database  (EDB)  
2.22.   At the May meeting, the WTO Secretariat  briefed delegates on the main features of the 
recently developed web -based platform of the  EDB.9 The Secretariat also shared so me noticeable 
general trends regarding environmen t-related trade measures  notified since 2009 and provided an 
example of topic-specific analysis based on  the EDB , focusing on notified environment -related 
measures concerning chemicals . At the November  meeting, the WTO Secretariat introduced the 2018 
EDB update highlighting key trends in measures notified that year. The Secretariat also provided a 
brief analysis of the measures notified for the purpose of MEAs implementation and compliance as 
included i n the database.  
2.23.   In both meetings,  several delegat ions commended the Secretariat for  the database , which 
was a useful and unique source of information for delegations, policy makers and researchers. T he 
amount of work involved in updating the database was r ecognized and the Secretariat  was 
encouraged  to continue updating the database  and improving its web-based application , including 
by refining the search engine and homepage features, improving the rate of data update , providing 
factual guidelines to facili tate comprehension of essential information  and continuing to provide 
topic-specific analyses . 
2.4   Services and the environment (Item 9 of the CTE Work Programme)  
"The work programme envisaged in the Decision on Trade in Services and the Environment."  
2.24.   At the November  meeting, on behalf of Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and 
Switzerland, Canada  briefed delegations on recent discussions during an informal session on 
environmental services at the Committee on Trade in Services in Special Session (CTS -SS).10 
Stressing the importance of services for the implementation of environmental policies and the 
potential trade and environmental benefits of enhanced market access, Canada noted that 
delegations had shared their domestic experiences and expressed their spe cific interests and 
concerns regarding further liberalization of environmental services. Several delegations supported 
discussions on improving market access for environmental services  while one delegation  also noted 
the importance of raising environmental  considerations under other WTO agreements.  
3  PARAGRAPH 33 OF THE DOHA MINISTERIAL DEC LARATION  
"We recognize the importance of technical assistance and capacity building in the field of 
trade and environment to developing countries, in particular the least-developed among 
them. We also encourage that expertise and experience be shared with Members wishing to 
perform environmental reviews at the national level."  
3.1  Report by the Secretariat on WTO technical assistance activities  
3.1.  At the May meeting , the WTO Secretariat  briefed delegations on national, regional and Geneva -
based technical assistance activities held in the three official languages in 2018, including the Fourth 
Advanced Course on Trade and Environment held in Geneva. Two new trade and env ironment online 
courses had been developed in 2018 and the Secretariat contributed to several other technical 
assistance and outreach events in cooperation with UN and regional institutions.  
 
9 The EDB can be consulted through the WTO webpage: www.wto.org/edb .  
10 See communication  on "Exploration discussions on market access for environmental ", submitted by  
Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Switzerland, JOB/SERV/293/Rev.1 .  WT/CTE/26  
 
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  4  OTHER BUSINESS  
4.1  Environmental Goods Agreement Negotiations  
4.1.  At the May meeting , Australia  updated delegations on the status of the Environmental Goods 
Agreement (EGA) negotiations launched in July 2014 . Noting that E GA members continued to 
consider how to make progress with the negotiations , Australia reaffirmed  the envir onmental and 
commercial benefits that  a successful conclusion could provide . Several delegations underscored the 
importance of the EGA and expressed support for resumption of negotiations  once conditions were 
appropriate . One delegation  did not support addressing the issue  in the Committee since the 
initiative was outside the scope of the CTE.  
4.2  Natural disaster s 
4.2.  At the November  meeting, the WTO Secretariat  provided an update of its research project on 
natural disasters and trade. Noting the recent publication of two WTO studies – one comprising an 
economic analysis of the implications of natural disasters on trade and another focusing on WTO 
legal aspects o f the issue . The Secretariat invited delegations for an upcoming WTO Symposium on 
the topic.  
4.3  Briefings by observer organizations  
4.3.  At the May meeting,  the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) 
of the  UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)  presented on its work related to sustainable 
standards, aiming in particular at product traceability in several sectors , including the fish and textile 
industries.  
4.4.  At the May and November  meetings, the OECD  briefed delegations on its recent and future 
work on trade and environment, including on: the development of a set of ten quantitative policy 
indicators on trade and environment that would enable policymakers to track countries' progress 
towards more compatible trade and environmental poli cies; trade and resource efficiency and 
circular economy; the report on Global Material Resources Outlook to 2060; RTAs and the 
environment; trade as a channel for clean technology diffusion; carbon leakage implications of 
climate policies in the agricultu ral sector; updates to the OECD inventory on FFS; and new digital 
technologies to tackle trade in illegal pesticides.  
4.5.  At the May and November  meetings, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  
briefed delegations on recent activities, including: th e results from UNEA 4  held in Nairobi in March 
2019; its project on Trade in Environmentally Sound Technologies (EST) which found that trade in 
EST had been on an upward trend since 2006, with developing countries exports in these goods 
having doubled sinc e 2006; the 2019 Emissions Gap Report noting the implementation of current 
Paris Agreement pledges would lead to a 3.2  degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures; an 
event during the 2019 Aid for Trade Global Review focusing on trade as a vehicle to b uild climate 
resilient economies and promote sustainable trade; and the results of the 3rd Oceans Forum jointly 
held with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development  (UNCTAD ). 
4.4  Other matters  
4.6.  At the May meeting, Canada  informed delegates about an event organized, together with 
France, back to back with the CTE, entitled "Carbon pricing and International Trade: How to Design 
Win-Win Strategies."  
4.7.  Discussions at the November  meeting based on a thematic approach was general ly appreciated 
as a useful model to follow. Canada, in particular,  thanked the CTE Chair and the WTO Secretariat 
for the modality adopted for the meeting, focusing around one particular topic while enabling 
delegations to hold related side -events, and sugg ested the format be emulated at least once a year.  
4.8.  The CTE Chair  noted the very active discussions at the November meeting based on a thematic 
approach  and proposed that given the wide interest expressed at the meeting on issues related to WT/CTE/26  
 
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  plastics and ci rcular economy, the next meeting of the CTE, scheduled to take place in March,  would 
also focus on the same topics .  
 
_______________  
 WT/CTE/26  
 
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  ANNEX 1:  ITEMS OF T HE CTE WORK PROGRAMM E 
Item 1:  The relationship between the provisions of the multilateral trading system and trade 
measures for environmental purposes, including those pursuant to multilateral 
environmental agreements.  
Item 2:  The relationship between environmental policies relevant to trade and environmental 
measures with signific ant trade effects and the provisions of the multilateral trading 
system.  
Item 3(a):  The relationship between the provisions of the multilateral trading system and 
charges and taxes for environmental purposes.  
Item 3(b):  The relationship between the provisi ons of the multilateral trading system and 
requirements for environmental purposes relating to products, including standards 
and technical regulations, packaging, labelling and recycling.  
Item 4:  The provisions of the multilateral trading system with respe ct to the transparency of 
trade measures used for environmental purposes and environmental measures and 
requirements which have significant trade effects.  
Item 5:  The relationship between the dispute settlement mechanisms in the multilateral 
trading system  and those found in multilateral environmental agreements.  
Item 6:  The effect of environmental measures on market access, especially in relation to 
developing countries, in particular to the least developed among them, and 
environmental benefits of removin g trade restrictions and distortions.  
Item 7:  The issue of exports of domestically prohibited goods.  
Item 8:  The relevant provisions of the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights.  
Item 9:  The work programme envisaged in the Deci sion on Trade in Services and the 
Environment.  
Item 10:  Input to the relevant bodies in respect of appropriate arrangements for relations 
with intergovernmental and non -governmental organizations referred to in Article  V 
of the WTO.  
 
 
 
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  WT/CTE/26  
 
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  ANNEX 2: PARTS OF TH E DOHA MINISTERIAL DECLARAT ION THAT RELATE TO THE W ORK 
OF THE CTE REGULAR  
32.  We instruct the Committee on Trade and Environment, in pursuing work on all items on its 
agenda within its current terms of reference, to give particular at tention to:  
 
(i) the effect of environmental measures on market access, especially in relation to 
developing countries, in particular 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;  
 
(ii) the relevant provisions of the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights; and  
 
(iii) labelling requirements for environmental purposes.  
 
Work on these issues should include the identification of any need to clarify relevant WTO rules. The 
Committee shall report to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference, and make 
recommendations, where appropriate, with respect to future action, includin g the desirability of 
negotiations. The outcome of this work as well as the negotiations carried out under paragraph  31(i) 
and (ii) shall be compatible with the open and non -discriminatory nature of the multilateral trading 
system, shall not add to or dimi nish the rights and obligations of members under existing WTO 
agreements, in particular the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, 
nor alter the balance of these rights and obligations, and will take into account the needs of 
developing and least -developed countries.  
 
33.  We recognize the importance of technical assistance and capacity building in the field of trade 
and environment to developing countries, in particular the least -developed among them. We also 
encourage that ex pertise and experience be shared with members wishing to perform environmental 
reviews at the national level. A report shall be prepared on these activities for the Fifth Session.  
 
51.  The Committee on Trade and Development and the Committee on Trade and Environment shall, 
within their respective mandates, each act as a forum to identify and debate developmental and 
environmental aspects of the negotiations, in order to help achieve the objective of having 
sustainable development appropriately reflected.  
 
 
 
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