INF/TE/SSD/R/15  
15 March  2023 
(23-1886) Page: 1/7 
Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured 
Discussions  Original : English  
 
  
WTO  TRADE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURED DISCUSSIONS  
HIGH -LEVEL STOCKTAKING EVENT , 2 DECEMBER 202 2 
Informal summary by the Co -Convenors1 
The Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) High-level Stocktaking 
Event was held on 2 December  2022. The meeting was chaired by the TESSD Co-convenors 
Ambassador Nadia Theodore  (Canada ) and Ambassador Ronald Saborío (Costa Ri ca), and moderated 
by Aik Hoe Lim, Director of the Trade and Environment Division.  
 
1  HIGH -LEVEL OPENING  
1.1.  WTO Director -General Ngozi O konjo -Iweala underlined the urgency of climate action and that 
trade was an essential tool for mitigation, adaptation, and fo stering a just transition . The WTO had 
underscored this message at COP27 in Sharm el -Sheikh  in Egypt by launching  the World Trade 
Report 2022, which made the compelling case that trade was  a force multiplier for global efforts to 
address climate change , being  a means for diffusing green technology  and an enabler of greater 
prosperity and resilience in the face of climate shocks.  International cooperation was essential t o 
reap these benefits  and prevent increased f ragmentation , which would not just  be economically 
harmful, but also  make it harder to achieve progress on climate change.  
1.2.  The Director -General  commended TESSD as a trailblazer at the WTO, breaking down silos and 
cooperating across traditional structures and fields of expertise to find pra ctical solutions to global 
problems . She encouraged TESSD co -sponsors to maintain their momentum towards MC13 and 
move from ambition to action by creating a menu of options for expanding sustainable trade, 
investment, and innovation in support of environme ntal objectives. She also called on Members to 
strengthen engagement with vulnerable developing countries such as Small Island Developing States 
(SIDS) and the LDCs and make use of tools such as Aid for Trade to catalyse sustainable investment 
and financin g. She concluded by encouraging Members to seize the opportunity to identify and 
deliver tangible outcomes for MC13, and commended them for reshaping the narrative around trade 
and the environment , demonstrating that trade is part of the solution.  
1.3.  The Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), Ms. Pamela Coke -Hamilton , 
welcomed the consideration of micro, small, and medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs) in TESSD. She 
pointed to findings of ITC's 2021 SME Competitiveness Outlook , which showed the  lesser  ability of 
MSMEs to invest in reducing environment -related risks compared to large firms in Sub -Saharan 
Africa.  She underlined the importance of supporting MSME s in the transition to a low -carbon 
economy . ITC was doing so by delivering climate -proofed Aid for Trade to MSMEs, helping them to 
make their value chains more resilient to climate change, connecting large buyers with climate -smart 
African business es, improv ing access to climate finance , and supporting them to adopt climate 
techn ologies and exploit new sustainability export markets. ITC was also helping companies and 
policymakers navigate the newly emerging trade -related climate measures that were raising 
uncertainty for exporters.  
1.4.  She underlined the importance of supportive polic ies to help MSMEs exploit new climate -related 
market opportunities and manage risks of social and economic exclusion related to the green 
transition . She informed members that, in 2023 , ITC would bring the voice of small businesses to 
 
1 This summary, prepared and circulated under the Co-convenors' responsibility, provides a 
non-exhaustive, illustrative review of the issues addressed by  speakers and  Members at the event . INF/TE/SSD/R/15  
 
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  TESSD through a new p roject , which would work in six countries over the next three years to explore 
how cooperation on trade and trade policies could advance decarbonization, climate adaptation and 
other domestic environmental priorities.  
1.5.  The Deputy Secretary -General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development 
(UNCTAD), Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno , welcomed the attention given to adaptation at COP27, which  
made clear the importance of the development perspective to the climate transit ion. In this regard , 
trade would be crucial to deliver new global supply chains on renewables, the decarbonized maritime 
industry, and the clean blue economy necessary  to meet the Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) . 
He welcomed that concerns of developin g countries and LDCs were reflected across all TESSD topics 
and noted that UNCTAD would support TESSD by instilling a global development perspective in the 
discussions .  
1.6.  He underlined the importance of developing countries enhanc ing their trade resilience ex ante 
through adaptation measures in sectors such as agriculture, fishing and tourism , and suggested 
possible work on a WTO climate waiver for trade-enabling climate policies under the  Paris 
Agreement.  He stressed that environment al goods and services (EGS)  should  include those related 
to the sustainable use of biodiversity and oceans , plastic substitutes and organic agriculture , which 
were in line with the S DGs and of export interest to developing countries. In this lat ter aspect,  
Members of the UN Global System of Trade Preference s among developing countries could explore 
the idea of launching a new round of negotiations for a sectoral agreement on environmental goods.  
He mentioned that UNCTAD supported developing countries in cre ating more circular economies 
through its Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Programme . Regarding 
subsidies,  he underlined the importance of  measuring and effectively notifying environmentally 
damaging subsidies , and shifting harmful subsidies to sustainable activities , such as the Green 
Climate Fund and renewable energy support programmes.  
2  STOCKTAKING BY THE TESSD CO -CONVENORS  
2.1.  Ambassador Ronald Saborío (Costa Rica) commended TESSD co -sponsors for advancing and 
intensifying th eir work in line with the TESSD Ministerial  Statement against the backdrop of a year 
of polycrisis. He noted that TESSD was an incubator of ideas and projects led by its co-sponsors. 
While co -sponsors might have different views and levels of ambition, they  had been brought together 
by the recognition that these  differences were small compared to the size of the problem posed by 
climate change  and the objective to make trade and the WTO part of the solution . He expressed 
appreciation for the contribution mad e by stakeholders to having science - and fact -based 
discussions , which was one of TESSD 's biggest added value s. He also invited Members that were not 
yet co -sponsors to join TESSD  in order  to bring more divers e voices to the conversation and shape 
the agend a. 
2.2.  Looking forward, Ambassador Nadia Theodore (Canada) noted the desire  of co-sponsors  to  
increase the depth and focus of discussions and that , as a reflection of this, the four working group s 
had selected a smaller sub -set of topics for Members  to consider going forward, focusing either on 
specific sectors or on specific types of information exchange or analysis . She noted that TESSD was 
uniquely positioned to provide a place for these , at times challenging , discussions , because it was 
an open forum with an agenda based on the interests of Members. She also encouraged co -sponsor s 
to think creatively about how to live up to the goal set out in the TESSD Ministerial Statement to 
"identify concrete actions that p articipating members could take individually or collectively to expand 
opportunities for environmentally sustainable trade in an inclusive and transparent way, consistent 
with their obligations. "  
2.3.  The Co -convenors expressed appreciation for the work of the  facilitators of the four informal 
working groups on trade -related climate measures (TRCMs), EGS, circular economy  – circularity, 
and subsidies , as well as the support provided by their own technical experts and the Secretariat . 
They underlined the remarka ble progress that had been made by Members in TESSD, which was 
documented by the Statement by the TESSD Co -convenors ( INF/TE/SSD/W/21 ) and the TESSD 
Summary Report 2022 ( INF/TE/SSD/R/14 ). 
2.4.  The Co -convenors Statement outlined work going forward. It was noted that the Working Group 
on TRCMs  would review different forms of carbon measurement standards and discuss the 
development and implementation process of TRCMs; the Working Group on EGS would pursue an 
objective -based approach, with the first environmen tal objective being climate change adaptation INF/TE/SSD/R/15  
 
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  and mitigation, and the first sectoral focus being on renewable energy. The Working Group on 
Circular Economy – Circularity would undertake a mapping exercise to build a broader understanding 
of the trade aspec ts which are relevant to each part of the lifecycle, and pursue sector -specific 
discussions starting with renewable energy and electronics. The Working Group on Subsidies would 
focus on environmental effects of subsidies, beginning with agricultural subsid ies and subsidies 
related to the transition to a low -carbon economy.  
3  PANEL DISCUSSION : TRADE POLICY, SUSTAINABLE TRADE AND CLIMATE CHANGE  
3.1.  A panel of four Ambassadors discussed the role of trade in helping Members achieve their 
climate goals,  how TESSD coul d help advance new ideas on trade and climate at the WTO, as well 
as related challenges and opportunities for developing countries and LDCs . 
3.2.  Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand  highlighted that the WTO could contribute to 
environment and climate goals in  multiple ways. Trade could facilitate the transition to low -carbon 
economies through an increased uptake of climate -friendly technologies, goods and services, which 
were also increasingly included in adaptation and climate resilience strategies. Trade disciplines 
could also contribute to reduc ing harmful environmental effects  of subsidies , as exemplified by the 
Agreement on F isheries Subsidies, efforts by a group of Members to reform fossil fuel subsidies, or 
the interest in negative environmental impacts of agricultural subsidies. The TESSD working groups 
helped build the understanding and evidence base for the possible contribution of trade to achieving 
environmental goals, including on barriers to trade in environmental products, environmental costs 
of harmful types of subsidies, circular economy and TRCMs . She underlined the need to effectively 
communicate the relevance of the TESSD agenda. Building empirical evidence to support further  
action was needed, but discussions could also aim to address challenges faced by LDCs and 
developing countries , such as food security or natural disaster recovery. Supporting the role of trade 
in sustainable development and as a means of addressing everyd ay challenges faced by developing 
and LDC Members could foster greater engagement in TESSD.  
3.3.  Ambassador Sofía Boza of Chile highlighted that TESSD co -sponsors shared a common 
objective of addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development, while having 
different national circumstances, vulnerabilit ies to climate change, and levels of development. Chile's 
share of renewable energy had surpassed coal -based energy production and required imported 
goods and technologies . In addition, on the most exp orted products, she mentioned  the example of 
Chilean wines  that had acquired carbon neutral certification . Regarding future work in TESSD, she 
suggested  that bridging the trade and environment regimes could  help find consensus and build 
understanding on ho w to work collectively towards addressing climate change without unnecessarily 
restricting trade. For instance, the Working Group on TRCMs  could work to build a common 
understanding on carbon measurement, certification, and consider carbon sequestration, w hile 
advancing discussions in a focused manner that avoided duplication efforts ongoing elsewhere.  She 
noted that d eveloping countries faced challenges in the three dimensions of sustainable development 
and the efforts of MSMEs to reduce their emissions  while facing  challenges in acquiring certification. 
Discussions in TESSD demonstrated the importance of promoting climate and trade policies which 
incorporated the impacts of their implementation into their design, and avoiding  in particular  the 
creation of unnecessary barriers to trade. With regard to future work, she encouraged the 
discussion s to maintain a just , socio-environmental transition as a guiding principle, including by 
supporting LDCs and developing countries through technology t ransfer, capacity building and 
technical assistance.  
3.4.  Ambassador Muhammadou Kah of The Gambia  noted that international trade could play a role 
in supporting efforts to foster climate -resilient sustainable development. Such efforts could be 
achieved through  increased Aid for Trade, technical assistance and capacity building to transform 
systems and help achieve a low -carbon transition, but which should also allow sufficient policy space , 
thereby reflecting the principles of special and differentiated treatme nt (SDT)  and common but 
differentiated responsibilities  (CBDR). The TESSD working groups could allow for deeper experience 
sharing and building evidence, including through the participation of stakeholders , such as 
international and regional organizations , to provide diverse views and ideas. He further  highlighted 
that developing countries and LDCs were already conscious of the benefits and challenges in 
engaging in sustainable trade, and that many had mainstreamed climate change considerations into 
their trade policies and national development strategies. He suggested that outreach efforts could 
be intensified, for instance , through greater assurance that TESSD work was consistent with the 
WTO and international climate agreements, was not intended to duplic ate the work of relevant WTO INF/TE/SSD/R/15  
 
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  committees and bodies, and was a non -negotiating initiative that supported the objectives enshrined 
in the Marrakesh Agreement.  
3.5.  Ambassador Petter  Ølberg  of Norway noted the importance of TESSD  in reshaping the narrative 
around trade and the environment, where trade could contribute to climate and environment goals. 
Trade could contribute  to climate mitigation  by increasing the diffusion of low -emission goods and 
services and reducing their costs, s uch as for wind turbines, or contributing to climate adaptation by 
improving preparedness and management of climate change consequences. In addition, making 
trade more environmentally friendly through decarbonizing of the transport sector and shipping 
could contribute to reducing global emissions. With regard to the working groups, he noted that 
discussions c ould help reduce trade tensions, build on experiences in RTAs, or build common 
understandings.  He said that  trade provided developing countries and LDC s with opportunities to 
acquire low -emission solutions and leapfrog developmental stages. On the other hand, LDCs and 
developing countries faced challenges in participating in global value chains of environmentally  
friendly products, wh ich require d skilled  work forces as well as a perception of higher risk. 
Overcoming such challenges could be possible through investment, including through the fund 
established at COP27 for loss and damage, as well as the existing Green Fund to invest in 
infrastructure in LDC s. 
4  STATEMENTS BY AMBASSADORS  
4.1.  A total of 22 Members took the floor to share their views on discussions and priorities in 
TESSD.2 Several Members underlined the need to continue collaborating to identify concrete 
outcomes, build trust and transparency, incr ease co -sponsorship by developing countries, and 
revitalize discussions in the Committee on Trade and Environment ( CTE).  
4.2.  Members commended as the fact that  discussions had progressed on substance and become 
more technical.  The deepening and widening focus of discussions within a short timeframe since the 
launch of the Ministerial Statement in December 2021 was characteri zed as reflecting  the increased 
trust and understanding among Members . Several Members highlighted the  importance of advancing 
towards concrete outcomes that could contribute to addressing environmental challenges and 
demonstrate that trade was part of the solution. According to some Members, concrete outcomes 
from TESSD could also include the identificati on of best practi ces, guidelines or soft law . Other 
members suggested  that TESSD could work towards liberalization and facilitation of trade to spread 
goods and technology, and support efforts on trade monitoring and dispute settlement .  
4.3.  Several Members underlined the importance of reflect ing developing countries' needs and 
interests  in the discussions , including technology transfer, access to markets, technical assistance 
and capacity building, investment and finance, and challenges faced by MSMEs.  It was suggested 
that TESSD could deepen its focus on incentives for decarboni zation, reflecting efforts from the 
Bridgetown Initiative, which aimed at driving investment for sustainability for climate -vulnerable 
economies. A number of Members noted the importanc e of sustainable development and its three 
dimensions – environmental, social and economic – in TESSD, as well as their linkages to the 
Marrakesh Agreement and the achievement of the SDGs. Some Members pointed to the principle of 
CBDR , as the effects of cl imate change would impact Members in different ways relative to their 
means and capacities .  
4.4.  A Member suggested that  some discussions, in particular , those which included principles such 
as SDT, could be transitioned or more actively taken up in  the CTE. Another Member suggested that 
Aid for Trade issues could be given a more central focus. It was also suggested that TESSD could 
consider addressing the issue of trade and natural disasters, and deepening cooperation with the 
Committee on Trade and Developm ent, with a view to developing an action plan . Several Members 
suggested that more efforts were needed to increase the co -sponsorship of TESSD. Efforts to 
enhance inclusiveness and transparency could include briefings with regional groups or in other WTO 
bodies.  
4.5.  Several Members welcomed the useful contributions from external experts and stakeholders , 
which had helped deepen the technical discussions in TESSD. It was suggested that TESSD could 
 
2 Australia, Barbados, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, European Un ion, Fiji, Iceland, Israel, Japan, 
Maldives, Mexico, Panama, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Türkiye, 
United  Kingdom, United States, and Uruguay.  INF/TE/SSD/R/15  
 
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  further expand engagements with stakeholders , including with the private sector,  to enrich 
discussions and broaden perspectives on how the WTO could play a role in environmental 
sustainability . 
4.6.  Concerning the Working Group on TRCMs , several Members  welcomed  the suggested approach 
in the Co -convenors Statement of review ing the different  forms of carbon measurement standards . 
Some Members also underlined the importance of discussing trade aspects of implicit and explicit 
carbon pricing , methodologies for carbon measurement , or the need to deepe n analyses of  carbon 
pricing and border carbon adjustment measures.  It was noted that measures to prevent carbon 
leakage should focus on the  difference in domestic and foreign carbon intensities, which  reflected 
the sum of government measures and companies' efforts.   
4.7.  Some Members highlighted the importance of TRCMs' compliance with WTO rules , Multilateral 
Environmental Agreements  and related principles , such as CBRD , as well as commitments included 
in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.  Certain members 
proposed  that targeted funding and technical assistance should be provided to developing countries 
and LDCs.  A Member also encouraged work to identify means to suppo rt developing countries to 
comply with requirements linked to TRCMs .  
4.8.  Some Members noted that the WTO and dedicated fora such as the CTE, could further promote 
transparency on the design of TRCMs, and that the work of TESSD could revitalize engagement and 
discussions on such topics in the CTE. With regard to potential outcomes, a Member noted that 
discussions could aim to develop best practi ces of T RCMs in order to ensure greater mutual 
supportiveness between trade and climate change policy . 
4.9.  For the Working  Group on E GS, Members broadly welcomed the proposed way forward to focus 
on climate mitigation and adaptation as an objective and renewable energy as a first sector.  Several 
Members welcomed further experience sharing in the discussions based on efforts a nd lessons 
learned from concluded and ongoing regional initiatives . It was noted that one reference point could 
be the Singapore -Australia Green Economy Agreement , which included a list of 372 environmental 
goods and 155 environmental services . Such examples of experience sharing could provide 
incremental steps towards the identification of goods and services .  
4.10.  Sever al Members  suggested that the identification of EGS required further exploration. In 
particular, some Members said that discussions could  identify the best approach to determining 
relevant EGS, possible trade actions to facilitate their dissemination and investment , and ensur e 
that a possible list of  goods reflected the  interest s of many Members. A Member  noted that 
discussions concerning the tariff classification of goods and cooperation with the World Customs 
Organization (WCO) would be beneficial in advancing the discussions.  
4.11.  Several Members also noted the importance of identifying and overcoming non -tariff barriers 
based on Members' exp erience , including improving transparency, reducing  burdens of compliance, 
and identifying the most significant non -tariff barriers based on stakeholder and business 
perspectives . In addition, continued exc hange on policies to improve the development of 
international standards and government procurement to enhance the dissemination of 
environmental goods  were important . Several Members also noted the importance of discussing 
regulatory cooperation, technical cooperation and technology transfer, capacity bui lding and 
sustainability standards. A Member mentioned  that the identification of goods and services and the 
start of negotiations  would be  an important  deliverable from the TESSD process .  
4.12.  Regarding  the Working Group on Circular Economy – Circularity , Members welcomed the 
proposed mapping exercise to identify the intersecting points of trade and the circular economy.  A 
Member said that the mapping exercise should be conducted before deepening discussions into 
specific sectors , whereas a nother Member noted that sector -specific discussions on renewable 
energy and e -waste could help in deepening understandings of trade -related issues in the circular 
economy .  
4.13.  Several Members underlined the importance of future discussions covering the entire li fecycle 
of products . A Member suggested that discussions could benefit from further experience sharing and 
from expert insights, particularly to identify the issues that  can hinder the transition to a circular 
economy , and regarding traceability and trade in waste . It was also suggested that discussions INF/TE/SSD/R/15  
 
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  should prioritize trade facilitation for goods and technologies that contribute d to the circular 
economy . The identification of environmentally  friendly products as substitutes to environmentally 
harmful, no n-recyclable products could also contribute to achieving the circular economy.  
4.14.  With regard to trade in waste, a Member encouraged further efforts to domestically dispose 
of waste to avoid environmental and human health issues , in particular regarding e -waste. Several 
Members underlined the importance of supporting developing countries, including to foster their 
participation in circular value chains, or to improve their waste recycling and disposal capacities.  
4.15.  For the Working Group  on Subsidies , a number o f Members welcomed the proposed focus on 
positive and negative environmental impacts of subsidies. It was noted that subsidies could be 
designed to support objectives such as food security or the protection of biodiversity , or have positive 
environmental e ffects. For instance, subsidies for pest management could reduce the use of chemical 
pesticides , or subsidies for so il conservation could reduce water evaporation and reduce erosion, 
and that such potential positive contributions should be considered when discussing agricultural 
subsidies.  A Member noted that discussions regarding subsidies to enable  a transition to a 
low-carbon economy could be challenging for developing country Members, and that discussions 
could instead cover financing or investment towards a low -carbon economy.  
4.16.   Several Members noted that specific discussions on agricultural subsidies could help advance 
efforts on reform , as well as efforts to promote sustainability in the WTO , with research from 
international organization s highlighting the negative effect of agricultural subsidies  on the 
environment . A Member suggested that sustainable agriculture should be provided a more central 
focus in TESSD discussions , while another Member suggested that measures such as technical 
regulations to encourage non -deforestation, and the effectiveness of such measures, could also be 
discussed within the Working Group.  
4.17.  A number of Members also noted their interest in areas such as industrial subsidies or fossil 
fuel subsidies and their impa cts on emissions and trade. Discussions on industrial subsidies could 
also include elements regarding positive aspects, including how industrial subsidies could best 
contribute to the environment while avoiding trade distortions. Several Members also noted  that 
discussions on subsidies should a void duplication with work in other committees, including the 
Committee on Agriculture or the Committee  on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures . A Member 
suggested that discussions could be more effective if focused on cross -cutting themes rather than 
specific sectors, for instance , transparency and design. Examining the positive and negative effects 
of subsidies could contribute to  improv ing domestic policymaking .  
5  STAKEHOLDERS' VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES  
5.1.  Stakeholders br oadly welcomed the progress made in the initiative and the opportunity to 
contribute substantive experience to the discussions.  Several stakeholders noted the opportunities 
for cross -cutting cooperation beyond the WTO, including with civil society or Membe rs at different 
levels of development.  The Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development ( OECD ) 
emphasized the need for more data and analysis on the interaction between trade and environmental 
policies in order to effectively support ambitious cl imate action. Among other things, it highlighted 
findings from its sectoral analysis that government support in emissions -intensive industries 
exacerbate d both trade -related and environmental issues. The World Economic Forum ( WEF) 
emphasized the need for c ollaboration, the urgency involved in the public goods at issue, and the 
importance of working towards credible and implementable outcomes towards MC13. It also 
highlighted their active participation in all topics discussed at TESSD, including the WEF's in dustry 
interviews which found that non-tariff barriers  were more significant trade barriers than tariffs. The 
United Nations Industrial Development Organization ( UNIDO ) highlighted it s efforts to promote 
inclusive and sustainable industrialization in order to create a level playing field, and its technical 
assistance efforts in electronics, plastics, textiles, construction and bioeconomy value chains. It also 
provided inputs on how it c ould support discussions on TRCMs and circular economy.  
5.2.  The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP ) underlined the importance of work on 
environmental sustainability, and reflecting the priorities, opportunities, and challenges facing 
developing countr ies. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ( UNECE ) noted that its 
work was particularly relevant to discussions on EGS and the circular economy. The International 
Chamber of Commerce ( ICC) acknowledged that TESSD was playing a critical role in helping unlock 
the potential of circular models and advanc ing environmentally sustainable trade. Engagement with INF/TE/SSD/R/15  
 
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  businesses w ould be key to help delegates understand critical issues and possible trade policy 
solutions. The Quaker United Nations Office ( QUNO) indicated that its work in 2023 would particularly 
relate to discussions  on subsidies and EGS. The Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs ( TESS) 
encouraged participants to redouble efforts to include developing countries in this work, including 
SIDS a nd LDCs. It also noted that issues like Aid for Trade and finance would be vital for developing 
countries to participate in sustainable trade.  
6  CLOSING REMARKS BY  DDG PAUGAM   
6.1.  In his closing remarks, DDG Paugam welcomed the progress made by TESSD  and its 
contribution to advancing the issues of environmental sustainability and climate change in the global 
trade agenda.  Reflecting on the discussion, h e encouraged Members to move towards concrete 
actions for MC13, which could be informed by producing a catalo gue of existing TRCMs in WTO. He 
further  encouraged Members to continue working with stakeholders to facilitate a dialogue with the 
private sector on standards, a s well as strengthen ing their outreach efforts and increas ing the 
diversity of TESSD participa nts, including by building synergies with other WTO agendas such as the 
Aid for Trade Init iative.  
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