INF/TE/SSD/W/32  
 
18 January  2024 
(24-0414) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 
TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS  (TESSD)  
STATEMENT BY THE TESSD CO -CONVENORS  
The following statement , dated 18 January 2024 , is being circulated at the request of the delegations 
of Canada and Costa Rica ( TESSD Co -convenors ). 
 
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We, the Co-convenors of the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions 
(TESSD), on the occasion of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, present the following 
communication:  
1. Recalling  the TESSD Ministerial Statement ( WT/MIN(21)/6/Rev.1 ) for the 12 th WTO Ministerial 
Conference where co -sponsors recognized that international trade and trade policy can and must 
support environmental and climate goals, and agreed to intensify work on areas of common interest 
and to identify concrete actions that they could take individually or collectively to expand 
opportunities for environmentally sustainable trade in an inclusive and transparent way, consistent 
with their obligations;  
2. Noting  Paragraph 14 of the MC12 Outcome Do cument, which recognized global environmental 
challenges and the importance of the contribution of the multilateral trading system to promoting 
the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals.  
3. Recognizing  the progress that TESSD has made in build ing trust among Members and laying 
solid and robust foundations at the technical level for discussion of a wide range of topics, since the 
issuance of the TESSD Ministerial Statement, in accordance with the TESSD Work Plan 2022 
(INF/TE/SSD/W/17/Rev.1 ), and the Co-convenors ' statement issued for the high -level stocktaking 
event in December 2022 ( INF/TE/SSD/W/21 ); 
4. Emphasizing  the substantive elements contained in these three documents, which recognize 
the importance of multilateral environmental agreements; the important work of the Committee on 
Trade and Environment  (CTE)  and other WTO bodies; and the valuable contribution of  stakeholders 
in the discussions with evidence -based and analytical inputs;  
5. Noting  that Members have openly and constructively engaged in the TESSD discussions – in 
an exploratory and non -negotiating manner – to exchange Members' experiences and discuss 
current practices and voluntary actions that illustrate how trade and trade policy can be supportive 
of tackling global environmental challenges;  
6. Welcoming the inclusive nature of these discussions, which have reflected the relevance of 
these issues to Memb ers at all levels of development, as well as the inputs from participating 
stakeholders, and resolving  to deepen the understanding of the development dimension, especially 
through the integration of perspectives and interests of developing countries and LD Cs; 
7. Welcoming  the progress and evolution of TESSD since MC12, reflected in the achievements of 
the four thematic Working Groups, pursued through a sectoral approach and articulated in the 
following four outcome documents:  
a. a compilation of best practices i n the development of trade -related climate measures  
(TrCM) with regard to (i) transparency and consultations, (ii) impact assessments, (iii) INF/TE/SSD/W/32  
 
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  review following implementation, and (iv) considerations for TrCM policymaking 
(INF/TE/SSD/W/25/Rev.3 ); 
b. an analytical  summary of discussions on environmental goods and services and 
renewable energy, covering (i) indicative lists of relevant goods and services, (ii) trade 
barriers and supply chain bottlenecks, (iii) developing country perspectives and  
(iv) opportunities and approaches for promoting and facilitating trade in these goods 
and services ( INF/TE/SSD/W/24/Rev.4 );  
c. a mapping of the trade and trade policy aspects  of circular economy relevant along the 
entire lifecycle of products as well as areas for possible trade -related action 
(INF/TE/SSD/W/27/Rev.2 ); and  
d. a non -exhaustive compilation  of Members' experiences and considerations for the 
design and transparency of subsidies ( INF/TE/SSD/W/29/Rev.2 ); 
8. Encouraging Members to further develop and build on these outcomes as they continue their 
work in TESSD and, as appropriate, to consider them in their own policymaking and in their e fforts 
to further progress trade and environmental sustainability at the multilateral level;  
9. Building  on the tangible progress achieved since MC12 and reflecting the inputs provided by 
Members:  
a. we present a renewed and updated Work Plan (Annex INF/TE/SSD/W/31 ), where 
discussions will continue to be deepened in the four Working Groups, focusing, inter 
alia, on enhancing transparency, identifying best practices and opportunities for 
policymaking, and integrating development perspectives, with a view t o delivering 
concrete results by MC14;  
b. the Co -convenors will seek to enhance complementarities and create synergies between 
the Working Groups by extracting common themes relating to trade climate change, 
and the environment for consideration by Members by MC14; and  
c.  in carrying out this work, TESSD w ill complement work undertaken at the multilateral 
level on trade and environmental sustainability, including by supporting the 
revitalization process of the CTE, seeking opportunities to present TESSD work at 
relevant WTO bodies, and continuing outreach t o WTO Members.  
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