JOB/TE/59  
 
29 November 2019  
(19-8213) Page: 1/1 
Committee on Trade and Environment  Original: English  
 
 STATEMENT OF NEW ZEA LAND ON BEHALF OF TH E PARTICIPANTS OF TH E "AGREEMENT 
ON CLIMATE CHANGE, T RADE AND SUSTAINABIL ITY" INITIATIVE  
Regular Session of the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) of 26 and 27 November 2019  
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This document is circulated at the request  of New Zealand.  
 
1. We are pleased to a dvise this Committee that on 25 September 2019, in the margins of United 
Nations General Assembly  (UNGA ) Leaders’ Week in New York, New Zealand, together with Norway, 
Iceland, Costa Rica and Fiji, announced the launch of the "Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and 
Sustainability " (ACCTS) initiative.  
2. Achieving the Paris Agreement’s goals and addressing the urgent challenge that faces all 
nations in relation to addressing climate change , economic stability and our sustainable development 
objectives, requires a global economic transformation.  This transformation is expected to improve 
economies and lift incomes, as well as improve the environment. However, there is a critical and 
urgent need for countries to act now to achieve these goals.  
3. As all members of this Committee know, there are a host of known actions in the trade policy 
area that can contribute meaningfully to combatting climate change and other serious environmental 
challenge s. 
4. The ACCTS initiative is intended to demonstrate in practical terms how trade rules and 
architecture can be used to support climate and broader sustainable development objectives while 
generating momentum towards an eventual multilateral outcome. The out come should ensure 
mutual supportiveness between trade and environmental policies and recognise the particular 
challenge faced by Small Island Developing Countries and their vulnerability to the impacts of climate 
change.  
5. ACCTS will include trade rules th at help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and facilitate 
increased trade that contributes to sustainable development. The ACCTS Agreement will be fully 
consistent with WTO rules and other international agreements.  
6. ACCTS will include measures such a s the removal of tariffs on environmental goods and the 
establishment of new commitments for environmental services; the establishment of disciplines to 
eliminate harmful fossil fuel subsidies; and the development of guidelines to inform and promote the 
development and implementation of voluntary eco -labelling programmes and mechanisms. This 
treaty level instrument will be open to other countries to accede to in the future if they are able to 
meet its obligations.  
7. Ultimately, the aim is that this initiative , achieved initially amongst a subset of WTO Members, 
then open to all who can meet the established standard, will be a pathfinder to multilateralism over 
time. Negotiations amongst the initial cohort of participants are anticipated to begin in 
February/Ma rch next year and will be concluded as swiftly as possible. We remain committed to 
keeping this Committee informed of progress and are very willing to engage further with any Member 
interested in potential membership.  
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