WT/MIN(21)/6  
 
15 November 2021  
(21-8622) Page: 1/4 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 30 November -3 December 2021  Original: English  
 
 
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS (TESSD)  
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY  
The following communication, dated 15 November 2021, is being circulated at the request of Albania; 
Australia; Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Canada; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Croatia; 
Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; European Union; Fiji; Finland; France; The Gambia; 
Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; 
Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Maldives; Malta; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; 
Montenegro; Netherlands; New Z ealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; 
Senegal; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Separate Customs 
Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; United Kingdom; and the United States.  
 
_______________  
 
 
We, the Ministers representing the following Members of the WTO: Albania; Australia; Austria; 
Belgium; Bulgaria; Canada; Chad; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Croatia; Cyprus; 
Czech  Republic; Denmark; Estonia; European Union; Fiji; Finland; France; Th e Gambia; Germany; 
Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; Kazakhstan; Korea, Republic of; Latvia; 
Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Maldives; Malta; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Montenegro; 
Netherlands; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Senegal; 
Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Separate Customs Territory of 
Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; United Kingdom; and the United States issue this statement at 
the 12th WTO Ministe rial Conference (MC12):  
Noting  the communication on trade and environmental sustainability in document WT/CTE/W/249 
that launched the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions in November 2020;  
Recalling that sustainable development and the protection and preservation of the environment are 
fundamental goals of the WTO, enshrined in the preamble of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing 
the WTO;  
Recognizing  the importance of multilateral environmental agreements, including t he United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement, the United Nations 
Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Con vention on Biological Diversity 
(CBD), among others;  
Underscoring the need for inclusive approaches that reflect the circumstances of the diversity of the 
WTO's membership and their specific development needs;  
Recognizing  that international  trade and trade  policy can and must support environmental and 
climate goals and promote more sustainable production and consumption, taking into account the 
importance of a just transition and making progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development 
Goals (SDGs);  WT/MIN(21)/6  
 
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  Stressing  the importance of environmental sustainability as a central issue for the WTO agenda and 
noting  the important work undertaken  in the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), as 
well as other WTO regular Committees or Bodies where environment  matters arise;  
Reaffirming  that the Structured  Discussions are not meant to duplicate other initiatives in the WTO, 
or indeed any other international or global initiative as well as existing WTO agreements and 
mandates;  
Highlighting the valuable inputs t hat stakeholders have given to the Structured Discussions on Trade 
and Environmental Sustainability, which have already served to enhance discussions by bringing  
scientific and data -based evidence to deliberations and reiterating the commitment to continue  this 
dialogue and enhance transparency ; 
Noting  the recent and current efforts by a diversity of WTO Members to address and promote 
dialogue and information sharing at the WTO on issues where trade, environmental and climate 
policies intersect, including  on circular economy; natural disasters; climate change mitigation and 
adaptation; fossil fuel subsidies reform; plastic pollution; combatting illegal, unreported and 
unregulated fishing and ensuring legal and sustainable trade in wildlife; the conservation and 
sustainable use of biodiversity; sustainabl e oceans; facilitating access to green technology; 
sustainable tourism; sustainable agriculture as well as trade in environmental goods and services;  
And also noting  other ministerial  statements1 on issues related to trade and environmental 
sustainability  and understanding that nothing in this statement compels any supporter to join any 
of them ; 
Agree to:  
1. Intensify our work on areas of common interest and to identify concrete actions that 
participating Members could take individually or collectively to exp and opportunities for 
environmentally sustainable trade in an inclusive and transparent way, consistent with their 
obligations;  
2. Launch dedicated discussions on how trade -related climate measures and policies can best 
contribute to climate and environmental  goals and commitments while being consistent with 
WTO rules and principles;  
3. Explore opportunities and possible approaches for promoting and facilitating trade in 
environmental goods and services to meet environmental and climate goals, including 
through a ddressing supply chain, technical and regulatory elements;  
4. Identify and compile best practices, as well as explore opportunities for voluntary actions 
and partnerships to ensure that trade and trade policies are supportive of and contribute to: 
(i) achievi ng a more resource -efficient circular economy; (ii) promoting sustainable supply 
chains and addressing the challenges and opportunities arising from the use of sustainability 
standards and any related measures, in particular for developing Members; and (ii i) 
promoting and facilitating access to environmental goods and services, including 
encouraging the global uptake of new and emerging low -emissions and other 
climate -friendly technologies;  
5. Identify challenges and opportunities for sustainable trade, inclu ding for developing and least 
developed Members, and encourage enhanced collaboration among participating Members 
in strengthening capacity building and technical assistance on trade and environmental 
sustainability, including through Aid for Trade;  
6. Suppor t continued discussions on the environmental effects and trade impacts of relevant 
subsidies and the role of the WTO in addressing these;  
 
1 Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainab le Plastics Trade.  WT/MIN(21)/6  
 
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  7. Adopt the Roadmap, and take steps to advance work, and commit to review progress after 
one year,  to take stock and wit h a view to adapting the TESSD work plan.  
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 WT/MIN(21)/6  
 
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 ANNEX  
ROADMAP TESSD – 2022 
• February 2022 : TESSD meeting – adopt workplan to implement operational part of MC12 
statement.  
• April 2022 : TESSD meeting – implementation of workplan. Begin planning and preparations 
for high -level event.  
• July 2022 : TESSD meeting – take stock of implementation status of MC12 statement and 
need to adapt the workplan to achieve full implementation of MC12 statement.  
• October 2022 : TESSD meeting – implementation of workplan.  
• December 2022 : High -level stocktaking event to review progress achieved (nota bly 
identification of good practices, voluntary actions and partnerships in the relevant areas) 
and adopt next steps towards MC13.  
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