WT/CTE/29  
 
16 December 2022  
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REPORT (202 2) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT  
In 202 2, the Committee on Trade and Environment in Regular Session (CTE) held three 
meetings: a first formal meeting on 2 February1, under the Chairmanship of Ambassador of the 
Philippines Mr  Manuel  A.J. Teehankee ; a second formal meeting on 2 June  and a third formal 
meeting on 17 and 21 October2 under the Chairmanship of Ambassador  Simon Manley 
(United  Kingdom) .3 From 17 to 21 October 2022, the CTE held its Third Environmental  Week. All 
meetings  were hosted both in person and virtually.  
The work of the CTE was organized in accordance with the mandate established by the 
Doha Ministerial  Declaration, Paragraphs 32, 33 and 51 , inclusive of the 10 items of the CTE Work 
Programme .4 In this context, d iscussions took place on a wide range of issues outlined below.  
1  ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES AND MARKET ACCESS5 
1.1  Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform  
1.1.  At the February  and June meetings, New Zealand  briefed delegations on the topic of fossil fuel 
subsidy  reform (FFSR) and updated on the December 2021 Joint Ministerial Statement supported by 
47 Members, as of October 2022. Co -sponsors committed to: (i) sharing information and experiences 
to move forward the discussion at the WTO; (ii) recognizing the speci fic needs and conditions of 
developing countries. New Zealand reiterated that the WTO is the appropriate forum to translate 
leaders' commitments of the FFSR in COP26 and the SDGs into concrete actions.   
1.2.  At the October  meeting , New Zealand  updated on the fi rst FFSR meeting held on 3 October as 
set out in the FFSR's High -Level Work Plan for 2022 -2023.6 The FFSR participants  and other 
stakeholders had collectively acknowledged the challenging context of the current energy crisis and 
shared the importance of continued work to achieve FFSR honouring international cooperation at the 
WTO. Participants had supported intensificatio n of work on FFSR, starting with increased 
transparency, experience sharing, and further analysis of the social, economic, and environmental 
impacts of fossil fuel subsidies  across the value chain. There was strong support for using Trade 
Policy Reviews, t he Subsidies an d Countervailing Measures Committee, and the Trade, Environment 
and Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) to advance Members' understanding on this work.  
Collaboration with other international organi zations was seen as key, particula rly the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , to encourage inclusion of FFSR commitments 
in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); and the IEA, UNEP, the O ECD and the Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation  (APEC) on data collectio n. Co-sponsors were planning the second meeting 
focusing on development and social issues associated with FFSR in 2023.  
 
1 Available through WT/CTE/M/74 , "Report of the Meeting held on 2 February 2021", Note by the 
Secretariat.  
2 To be circulated through WT/CTE/M/76.  
3 Available through WT/CTE/M/75, "Report of the Meeting held on 2 June 2021", Note by the 
Secretariat.  
4 The CTE Work Programme and the par ts of the Doha Development Agenda that are relevant to the 
work of the CTE Regular are included in Annexes 1 and 2 respectively.  
5 Paragraph 32(i) of the Doha Ministerial Declaration, Item 6 of the CTE Work Programme : "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 develo pment."  
6 WT/MIN(22)/8 (10 June 2022).  WT/CTE/29  
 
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  1.3.  In reaction to the updates,  several delegations  acknowledged the importance of FFSR  and 
recogni zed the role of WTO in addressing this i ssue. Some other delegations restated their objections 
to discussing FFSR in the CTE, noting that the issue of FFSR was dealt with in other for ums such as 
the G20 , whereby a voluntary peer review  of inefficient FFS that encouraged wasteful consumption 
was done in accordance with their national circumstances, priorities and needs .  
1.4.  New Zealand , on behalf of  the Friends of FFSR , reported  on their side event held during the 
Trade and Environment Week 2022 titled  "FFSR: challenges and opportunities in the context of an 
energy crisis" . Key points from the event included: (i) the massive fiscal strain fossil fuel subsidies 
entailed for governments, particularly developing  country budgets; (ii) the importance of ensu ring 
that temporary relief measures were targeted, transparent, and time -bound; (iii)  the experience of 
past energy crises in acting as a driver for reform, including promoting major strides to reduce fossil 
fuel dependency; and (iv)  the particular challen ges faced by developing countries . 
1.2  Circular Economy and Plastics  
1.2.1   Plastics  
1.2.1.1   Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade  
1.5.  At the February meeting, Australia  and Ecuador  briefed that: (i) the Dialogue Ministerial 
Statement had been successfully adopted; (ii) Maldives was the latest (the 68th) member to join the 
group; and (iii) the 2022 Work Plan was being finalized. Some Members emphasized: (i) the 
importance of achieving concrete results by MC13 building on the established mom entum while 
avoiding duplication of efforts; (ii) the collaboration with stakeholders; and (iii) the need to increase 
coordination with TESSD. One delegation re -emphasized its view that a trade facilitative approach 
would help minimize the need for virgin materials and improve circularity, while also querying about 
the relationship and overlap with TESSD discussions. Another delegation stressed that effective 
waste plastic management and circular carbon economy would be more efficient approaches to be 
empha sized.  
1.6.  At the June meeting, Ecuador  briefed that the Dialogue's pre -plenary and plenary meetings 
had spurred robust dialogues with stakeholders on three workstreams: (i) cross -cutting issues; 
(ii) promoting trade to tackle plastic pollution; and (iii) redu ction to tackle plastic pollution and 
circularity. In the context of MC12, the Dialogue had launched two voluntary surveys for: 
(i) assessing Aid for Trade needs, and (ii) mapping trade -related plastics measures to identify gaps 
and potential synergies. A communication to the WCO on further cooperation to identify plastic trade 
flows was also issued. Some delegations highlighted the need to involve other stakeholders including 
businesses, industries, NGOs, civil society, indigenous peoples, and youth.  
1.7.  At the October meeting, Ecuador  updated on the Dialogue's third pre -plenary meetings held 
on 19 and 20 September under the co -chairmanship of Colombia, Fiji, and the Philippines. These 
meetings covered each workstream's technical discussions that were generated  by invited 
stakeholders and industry experts on trade -related efforts on cross -cutting issues. The ongoing work 
on the two Dialogue's surveys – on trade -related plastics measures and aid for trade – was also 
debriefed. Some delegations welcomed the Dialog ue's work; others underlined the importance of 
ensuring mutual supportiveness between the work of the United Nations Environmental Assembly 
(UNEA) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to develop a legally binding instrument on 
plastic pollution an d WTO. Several delegations expressed support of the Dialogue's engagement in 
the UNEA process which would provide a valuable contribution to negotiations with a trade -related 
angle.  
1.8.  Ecuador , on behalf of  the Dialogue's  coordinators , reported on their side  event held during the 
Trade and Environment Week 2022 titled "A stocktaking side event organized by the coordinators of 
the Dialogue on plastics pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics trade". The event 
showcased the relevance and contribution o f international cooperation to tackle plastic pollution 
while avoiding duplication of work and provided an opportunity to look at the steps required to 
further strengthen international trade cooperation in support of efforts to end plastic pollution.  WT/CTE/29  
 
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  1.2.1.2   Briefings on National Efforts Related to Plastics Pollution  
1.9.  At the February  meeting, Maldives  briefed delegations on the steps taken to phase -out single  
use plastics. The 18th Amendment Bill to the Export -Import Act (31/79) of the Maldives was ratified 
in December 2020, based on which the import of any goods declared as single -use plastics was 
prohibited starting 1 June 2021. The Amendment also mandated the government to compile and 
publicize the list of goods to be classified as banned single -use plastics,  as well as to add or remove 
items from the list in the future. This initiative would enable the Maldives to steadily phase -out 
single -use plastics by 2023, one of the government's key environmental pledges.  
1.10.   The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  briefed on  the key role that the Circular Economy and Circular 
Carbon Economy  (CCE)  could play in achieving the goal of global sustainable trade. While "Circular 
Economy" focused on material flow, the "C CE" emphasized emissions management – both of which 
were complementary a nd important in accelerating global sustainable trade goals. Saudi Arabia  also 
noted that it would share its experience in the deployment of the CCE with CTE Members.  
1.11.   At the June meeting, Japan  informed delegations of its  "Act on Promotion of Resource 
Circulation for Plastics" that entered into force in April 2022 and promoted the "3R+renewable" in 
each stage of the lifecycle, from product design to waste disposal, of  plastic products. Japan had 
also proposed the "Osaka -Blue Ocean Vision" framework, which set the target of reducing additional 
pollution from marine plastic litter to zero by 2050. Further, Japan had been actively working on 
measures against marine plastic waste to play a leading role in the new plastics treaty negotiations 
scheduled to start later in the  year.  
1.2.1.3   Briefing by UNEP  
1.12.   The United Nations Environment Programme  (UNEP) briefed delegations on the UNEA -5 
resolution on negotiations towards an international agreement on plastic. UNEA had adopted 
resolution 5/14 in March 2022 requesting  UNEP to convene an Intergovernmental Negotiating 
Committee (INC) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including 
in the marine environment. The resolution specified that the instrument would be based on a 
comprehensive app roach that addressed the full life cycle of plastic, taking into account the Rio 
Declaration and national circumstances and capabilities. According to UNEP, for a successful new 
circular plastics economy, innovation had to be encouraged . There would  also be a need to create 
new market opportunities for recycled plastic and products with recycled content, and investment 
opportunities would have to be generated that enabled waste to be collected, sorted, recycled , and 
reused.  
1.2.2   Circular Economy  
1.13.   At the June meeting, the  United States  (US) presented its discussion paper "Climate Change 
and Circular Economy" . The paper proposed building a robust work stream to explore how trade 
policy can address climate change, including exploring the role of supply chains  to facilitate a circular 
economy. Further, the US proposed organizing a roundtable with stakeholders and experts to identify 
trade measures that can positively contribute to addressing climate change.  
1.14.   At the October meeting, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  reported on its  side event  held during 
the Trade and Environment Week 2022  titled "Circularity for a Sustainable Future". The session 
explored the aspects of circularity and the interdependency between global trade, environment, as 
well as innovation, and p resented the national programme on circular carbon economy  where the 
fourth R was introduced (Reduced, Recycle, Reuse and Remove) that enabled the removal 
technologies such as Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage “CCUS” and Direct Air Capture “DAC” 
technologi es.  
1.15.   The European Union  reported on its side event held during the Trade and Environment Week 
2022 titled "Circular Design and Trade"  The discussions had shown that a transition towards a more 
resource efficient and circular economy had broad interlinkages  with international trade, through 
cross border supply chains, end -of-life value chains, and services trade.  
1.16.   The OECD reported on their side event held during the Trade and Environment Week 2022  
titled "The role of trade in a circular economy transition ". The event aimed to shed light on how a WT/CTE/29  
 
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  global transition to a circular economy can be supported by trade an d how policy coherence between 
circular economy  and trade policies can be fostered.  
1.3  Trade Aspects of the European Green Deal   
1.17.   At the February  meeting, the European Union  briefed WTO delegations on the implementation 
of the European Green Deal, and particularly its new legislative proposal to curb EU -driven 
deforestation. This proposal sought, among others, to minimize the risk that products com ing from 
supply chains associated with deforestation or forest degradation were placed on the EU market. 
The EU noted that the commodities covered in the measure were palm oil, soy, wood, cattle, cocoa, 
and coffee and some derived products (e.g., leather, chocolate, furniture). The proposal would create 
mandatory due diligence rules for all operators that placed the commodities and products on the EU 
market or exported them from the European Union .  
1.18.   Several delegations recognized the importance of the objec tives pursued by the European 
Green Deal and of the respect of the Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) principle to 
avoid possible discriminations. Other delegations encouraged the European Union to further consult 
with WTO Members. Broadly, the delegations noted that measures must consider economic, social, 
and environmental conditions and needs of developing countries; and comply with WTO rules. One 
delegation  stated that the EU proposal related to sustainable agriculture which should be inc lusive 
in light of SDG17. Another delegation  underscored the importance of multilateral dialogue to ensure 
adequate transparency of environmental measures. On the issue of the crediting of foreign climate 
policies, a delegation  noted that the proposal may ultimately exclude consideration of policies other 
than explicit carbon pricing.    
1.19.   At the June meeting,  the European Union  continued briefing on certain trade aspects of the 
upcoming legislation in the framework of the European Green Deal, notably the Ecod esign for 
Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the revised Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR). 
According to the EU, the ESRP sought  to improve consumer protection and facilitate work for supply 
chain actors. The revised WSR aim ed to ensure that the EU's  waste challenges were not exported to 
third countries, and to facilitate shipment of waste destined for re -use and recycling.  
1.20.   Some delegations  recognize d the importance of the objectives pursued by the EU Green Deal 
and other s encourage d the European Uni on to further consult with Members and provide additional 
information with respect to the trade -related initiatives in the European Green Deal. Several 
delegations  stated that the EU should account for economic, social, and environmental conditions 
and nee ds of developing countries. One delegation  stated that trade and sustainability policy needed 
to avoid establishing a two -tier economy where developed countries had the resources and capacity 
to transition to a green economy while the rest of the world was  left in a brown economy. Another 
delegation  stated that historical contributions meant that countries that industrialized first should 
bear a larger brunt of the cost of emission reduction.  
1.21.   At the October  meeting, the European Union  updated  on the status  of certain proposals of 
importance to EU exporters. In Quarter 4 of 2022, these proposals would include new emissions 
standards for cars, vans, lorries, and buses; rules on the substantiation of green claims; policy 
framework for bio -based, biodegradable,  and compostable plastics; and revision of rules on 
packaging and packaging waste. In 2023, the European Commission would work on measures 
tackling micro plastic pollution; a revision of EU chemicals legislation; and a review of CO 2 emission 
standards for heavy -duty vehicles. The EU also updated on the state of play of its carbon border 
adjustment mechanism  and deforestation proposals. The inter-institutional negotiations between the 
European Commission, the Council, and the European  Parliament were advanci ng, and the plan was 
to reach agreements by the end of 2022 or early 2023. In the meantime, the Commission was 
engaging on these initiatives with its trading partners in multilateral, plurilateral and bilateral forums.   
1.22.   Several delegations took the floor to clarify the scope of the proposals and posed specific 
questions on the details of their implementation. Regarding the deforestation measure, a delegation 
asked about the criteria used to select the covered commodities and the criteria that would be used 
to benchmark producing countries based on risk levels. Regarding the Ecodesign for Sustainable 
Products Regulation, a Member presented questions on its implications regarding the textile sector. 
Other delegations express ed concerns as to the proposals' their compliance with WTO law and the  
multilateral environmental agreements. A number of delegations encouraged the EU to further WT/CTE/29  
 
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  consult with WTO Members. The European Union  responded, stressing its transparency efforts, 
including in the CTE, and highlighting that the Green Deal measures do not intend to create barriers 
to trade. Their sole goal is to enable us to meet the climate and environmental agendas and goals 
to which we  have all committed. The EU stressed that the f ocus should not be on stopping these 
policies but rather on looking into their design and the CTE's role in transparency and deliberations. 
The EU also highlighted the EU's international cooperation efforts, including through Aid for Trade.  
1.4  Use of environm ent as a non -tariff measure  
1.23.   India shared its concerns on the increasing use of environment as a non -tariff measure. It 
referred to border adjustment measures that could nullify the balance of rights and obligations under 
MEAs; import bans relating to deter mination of land -use patterns or deforestation in the country of 
origin with a potential to severely impact global agriculture trade; and arrangements on tariff quotas 
or equivalent measures based on the carbon content of products that could fragment globa l trade 
flows. Several delegations shared India's concerns about the application of unilateral measures and 
highlighted the importance of global cooperation.  
1.5  Forest Agriculture and Commodities Trade (FACT) Dialogue  
1.24.   At the February  meeting, the United King dom (UK) updated WTO Members on activities 
related to making supply chains more sustainable. It noted that the Forest Agriculture and 
Commodities Trade (FACT) Dialogue representatives developed a shared roadmap of actions that 
set an ambitious path to supp ort the transition to a coherent international system for sustainable 
agricultural -commodity production and trade. The UK underscored the need to deliver and 
implement actions by aligning with and building on the relevant work done by WTO, including in the  
CTE and the TESSD. The United Kingdom  also updated on a side event it had organized titled 
"Implementing Due Diligence on Forest Risk Commodities – Recent Developments in the United 
Kingdom" . The webinar reported on the UK's proposed implementation of due  diligence legislation, 
as introduced through the UK Environment Act to address illegal deforestation in UK supply chains. 
The UK noted that due diligence regulations would make it illegal for large companies operating in 
the UK to use forest risk commodit ies produced on illegally occupied or used land.  
1.25.   At the June meeting, the United Kingdom  continued updating on the FACT Dialogue. The 
ongoing  work within the trade and market theme aimed at collective understanding of how global 
markets can better incenti vise sustainable agriculture, forest commodity production and trade, 
including how supply and demand -side policies can be mutually reinforcing to better incentivise 
sustainable production and consumption. Multilateral institutions like the WTO were relevan t to these 
discussions and could play a key role in considering these technical challenges and how they might 
be addressed. It would be important to build linkages between the two forums and understand which 
WTO structures and forums would be suited to str engthen the cooperation and joint action 
envisioned in the FACT Dialogue.  
1.6  Other N ational Experience Sharing  
1.26.   At the October  meeting, India report ed on its side event held during the Trade and 
Environment Week 2022 titled  "An introduction to International S olar Alliance and Coalition for 
Disaster Resilient Infrastructure" . At the event, t wo international organizations headquartered in 
India – the International Solar Alliance (ISA)  and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 
(CDRI) – presented their work, program mes, and organization . 
1.27.   India also briefed the CTE on its renewable energy and energy efficiency measures under its 
national energy transition goals to reduce emi ssions intensity by 45% by 2030 (i) achieving 50% of 
cumulative electric power installed capacity from non -fossil fuel energy resources by 2030, and 
(ii) reaching its target of net -zero by 2070 . 
1.28.   China  updated on its policy framework and progress regarding achieving peak CO 2 emissions 
and carbon neutrality, and its concepts for international cooperation. A Leading Group on Carbon 
Peaking and Carbon Neutrality had been set up to strengthen overall planning, coordination, and 
implementation of the framework, t ogether with formulating implementation and support plans at 
national and provincial level. China was also strengthening South -South cooperation on climate WT/CTE/29  
 
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  action and promoting green and sustainable development in international fora, including supporting 
the WTO as the main channel for coordinating trade policies in response to climate change.  
2  MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS (MEAS)7 
2.1  The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)  
2.1.1   Presentations by the UNFCCC  
2.1.  At the February , June, and October  meetings, the UNFCCC briefed  delegations on COP26 and 
COP27 . In Glasgow, the  Paris Rulebook was finally completed. On finance, the Conference had 
recognized both the gap in the fulfillment of the USD  100 billion goal and the increased pledges to 
address the gap in 2022 -2023. On mitigation, the approval of a new work plan was expected for 
COP27, which would be a tool fo r scaling up mitigation ambition. On adaptation, there had also been 
a call for doubling funding. Record pledges of over USD  350 million had been made to the Adaptation 
Fund, which was an important tool in delivering support in developing countries. There were a large 
number of outcomes beyond negotiations coming from non -Parties, stakeholders, business, regions, 
and institutions, such as the Race to Resilience and the work on forests and methane. The UNFCCC 
emphasized the urgency to meet the needs of devel oping countries and to facilitate their access to 
climate finance. Looking forward to COP27, the challenge was in the delivery of the decisions made. 
To be successful, COP27 would have to result in a balanced package of decisions across all topical 
areas: adaptation, loss and damage, mitigation, and means of implementation, including, notably, 
finance.  
2.1.2   Updates on COP26 and COP27  
2.2.  At the February , June, and October  meetings, t he United Kingdom  briefed delegations on 
COP26 outcomes and the progress made since . The U nited Kingdom  underscored the need to place 
climate and environmental issues at the heart of WTO 's agenda. All 197 Parties had agreed to the 
historic Glasgow Climate Pact for concerted and urgent action to keep the 1.5°C goal in reach. The 
Pact calle d on countries to phase -down unabated coal power and phase -out inefficient fossil fuel 
subsidies. In May, the COP26 President, Alok Sharma, and COP27 President Designate, Egypt 's 
Foreign Affairs Minister Sameh  Shoukry, co -chaired a meeting of ministers and  representatives from 
over 40 governments. On mitigation , positive signals from countries assessing  how they can 
strengthen their NDCs  were being received , including by underpinning headlines targets with sectoral 
action.  On finance , the German and Canadia n governments were set to  coordinate a progress update 
ahead of COP27 on the USD 100 billion Delivery Plan. The Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance 
had also launched trial projects in Bangladesh, Fiji, Jamaica, Rwanda,  and Uganda.  On adaptation 
and loss and damage , Parties ha d submitted their views on the Glasgow Sharm el -Sheikh work 
programme on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GlaSS) which w ould help track pro gress .  
2.3.  At the June and October  meetings , Egypt  provided an overview of the preparations and 
priorities in the upcoming COP2 7. Egypt was keen to ensure the balance in messages coming out 
from the 27th session of the UNFCCC Conference between mitigation and  the legitimate aspiration 
of developing and least developed countries, especially African countries, to adapt to the current 
and short -term adverse impacts of climate change, achieve sustainable development, and build 
resilience with just transition as a core principle. Egypt stressed the importance of shifting from 
pledges to implementation, building trust between the various parties, acknowledging the common 
but differentiated responsibility as a fundamental principle of the Paris Agreement  and enhancing  a 
common understanding of the challenges of others, especially developing countries and LDCs, to 
ensure that no one was left behind.  
2.4.  At the October  meeting, Switzerland  made a presentation on bilateral cooperation under 
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, h ighlighting its work in concluding cooperation agreements with 
several partner countries, which defined the conditions for the transfer of Internationally Transferred 
Mitigation Outcomes  (ITMOs) from the partner countries to Switzerland.  
 
7 Items 1 and 5 of the CTE work programme: "The relationship between the provisions of the 
multilateral trading system and trade measures for environmental purposes, including those pursuant to 
multilateral environmen tal agreements." And "The relationship between the dispute settlement mechanisms in 
the multilateral trading system and those found in multilateral environmental agreements."  WT/CTE/29  
 
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  2.5.  At the October  meeting, the International Trade Centre  (ITC) provide d an update on its 
participation in COP27 . The ITC indicated that its participation would focus on providing a platform 
for developing co untries, LDCs and small businesses to allow them to take part in the green 
transition.  
2.1.3   Update from New Zealand on the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and 
Sustainability (ACCTS)  
2.6.  At the February , June and October  meeting s, New Zealand  provided an update on the 
negotiations towards the A greement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS)  on behalf 
of ACCTS Members ( Costa Rica , Fiji, Iceland , Norway , and Switzerland ).8 The Climate Ministers 
hosted a side  event during COP26 and issued a statement reiterating (i) their support for the ACCTS 
negotiations ; (ii) the need to conclude negotiations without delay  while maintaining ambition ; 
(iii) the elaboration of s pecific targeted flexibility in ACCTS  provisions  for developing countri es; and 
(iv) the  aim to help inform broader discussions on trade and the environment, including in the 
TESSD. The ACCTS had held two rounds of negotiations in 2022 (in March and May), making a total 
of four rounds since  the launch of the negotiations. A PEC existing work on environmental goods and 
services had assisted the negotiations. Parties envision ed making ACCTS an open -plurilateral 
agreement for WTO Members to join. ACCTS Members also advanc ed the construction of the 
environmental goods and services l ist with the environmental goods short list now covering over 
200 products.  
2.1.4   Other Briefings  
2.7.  At the October meeting, t he United  Kingdom  reported on its two side events held during the 
Trade and Environment Week 2022: (i) "View from the ground: Exploring the  business experience 
of trade in environmental goods and services" in which the private sector explored the benefits and 
challenges of green trade, and how the WTO can support the transition to green economy; and 
(ii) "Spotlight on International Collaborat ion to Accelerate Decarbonisation" which focused on 
industrial decarbonisation, and the value of international initiatives such as the COP26 Breakthrough 
Agenda, and the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative.  
2.8.  Samoa  reported on a side event held jointl y by IISD and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat 
during the Trade and Environment Week 2022  titled "Trade and climate change adaptation" . The 
event  explored the role of international trade in efforts to adapt to climate change, particularly from 
the per spective of Small Island Developing States (SIDS).  
2.2  The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)  
2.9.  At the June meeting, t he Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)  debriefed that parties to the 
CBD had agreed to establish a working group to develop the "Post -2020 Global Biodiversity 
Framework". Notably, at COP15, the "2021 Kunming Declaration"  had been adopted by more than 
100 countries. The Declaration contained a reference to cross -governmental groups to promote the 
mainstreaming of biodiversity in decision -making and strengthening cross -sectoral coordination 
mechanisms on biodiversity which could also apply to trade policies.  
2.10.   Further, t he United Kingdom  briefed o n the Dasgupta Review on "The Economics of 
Biodiversity" it had commissioned in 2019. Key insights included: (i) increased international trade 
could have both beneficial and detrimental effects on biodiversity; (ii) to make the transition to more 
sustainab le consumption and production habits, environmental factors must be addressed 
throughout the entire supply chain; (iii) sustainability clauses and measures in Regional Trade 
Agreements had grown over time; and (iv) financial commitments to environmental ob jectives as 
part of assistance expenditure geared at facilitating trade had expanded, accounting for almost a 
third of total aid .  
 
8 See document WT/CTE/GEN/27 . WT/CTE/29  
 
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  3  TRANSPARENCY OF ENVIRONMENT -RELATED TRADE MEASURES9 
3.1  WTO Environmental Database  
3.1.  At the February  meeting, the WTO Secretariat  informed delegates that the  Environmental 
Database (EDB) 2020 repor t had been published in January in document WT/CTE/EDB/20 . The 
Secretariat noted that the ED B portal between 2009 and 2020  covered information on roughly 
7,000  environment -related notifications, 14,500 measures notified under the WTO Agreement, and 
9,300 environment -related entries in Trade Policy Reviews. Additionally, new features of the EDB 
enabling topic specific analysis were introduced.  
3.2.  At the October  meeting, t he WTO Secretariat  provided an update on the EDB for 2021 
registering a record number of environment -related notifications and measures. 116 Members had 
submitted 931 environment -related notifications containing 2,250 measures, which was a 62% 
increa se from 2020. There had been  18 Trade Policy Reviews submitted by Members in 2021 which 
contained a record high 1,516 environment -related entries. Some Members sought clarifications 
regarding the classification of entries in the EDB regarding the Agreement  of Agriculture . 
4  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING10 
4.1  Briefings  on Relevant WTO  Activities  
4.1.  At the February  meeting, t he Chairperson  informed the Committee that, under the request and 
guidance of the CTE in Special Session's Chairperson Ambassador S amba, the WTO Trade and 
Environment Division had organized on 19 November an information session for the LDC Group. The 
information session had provided delegates from the LDC Group with an opportunity to take stock 
of the role of the CTE and review Member s' initiatives on trade and environment.  
4.2.  At the June meeting, the WTO Secretariat  briefed delegations on the  ongoing joint webinar 
series with the World Bank that focuse d on the developmental dimension of the nexus between trade 
and climate change . In Mar ch 2022, the WTO Secretariat and the World Bank  had launched a 
"Webinar Series on Trade and Climate Change" intending to reach  out to wider audience s on th is 
topic. Based on a common fundamental value shared by the two institutions, "inclusivity", the 
overarching theme of the series was the developmental dimension of the dialogue on trade and 
climate change, bringing in some  lesser -known narratives o n trade and climate change.  
4.2  Briefings on WTO Trade and  Environment Week  
4.3.  At the October  meeting, the WTO Secretariat  provided a briefing on  WTO Third Trade and 
Environment Week held from 17 to 20 October 2022. There were 16 side events (83 speakers) 
hosted by a number of Members and regional groupings. Stakeho lders, such as, Silverado and IISD; 
and, international agencies, such as U nited Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)  and 
the OECD, also participated. Topics included traceability of supply chains; plastic pollution; climate 
and development; circu lar economy transition; climate adaptation and resilience; fisheries; and 
environmental goods and services. There were 738 participants registered to attend online and 
280 in person.  
4.4.  The United States  reported on its side event held during the Trade and E nvironment Week 
2022 titled "Supporting More Circular Economies through Trade Policy for Climate Change Solutions". 
Expert speakers at the event described areas and opportunities where trade policy can be proactively 
utilized to support more circularity fo r goods and technologies relevant to climate change mitigation 
and adaptation efforts.  The United States  also briefed delegations on a trade and climate small group 
roundtable that it organized on 3 October 2022 to discuss non -price measures to address cli mate 
 
9 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 effects."  
10 Paragraph 33 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration: "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 tha t expertise and experience be shared with members 
wishing to perform environmental reviews at the national level."  WT/CTE/29  
 
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  change. Participants shared experiences on non -price approaches, including voluntary and 
regulatory actions, that Members were taking for addressing emissions and pollution.  
4.5.  India report ed on its side event  held during the Trade and Environment Week 2 022 titled  
"Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) – Building a Community of Pro -Planet People". The event covered 
the LiFE initiative which aimed to address carbon footprint on the consumption side with an objective 
to create a global mass movement by triggerin g simple actions and nudging responsible production 
and consumption.  
4.6.  The UNECE  reported on their side event held during the Trade and Environment Week 2022 
titled "Environmental, social and governance (ESG) traceability of supply chains".  An important 
takeaway was that t raceability  and transparency are key to provid ing information to locate and 
address adverse ESG effects , respond ing to consumers ' and investors ' demands , mitigat ing risks, 
and mov ing towards a future of trade that is green,  digital , and inclusive.  
4.3  Briefings on Aid for Trade  
4.7.  At the June and October  meetings, the WTO Secretariat  provided an overview o f the analysis 
of the A id for Trade (AFT) m onitoring and evaluation (M&E) self -assessment exercise,  in particular 
the questions related to the environmental dimension of sustainable development. The Secretariat 
also updated delegations on the preparations AFT Global Review held from 27-29 July 2022 on the 
theme of "Empowering connected, sustainable trade"  highlighting that: (i) env ironmental 
sustainability ha d become a priority in the national development strategy; (ii) more attention was 
given to environment issues in AFT programming by donors and South-South partners; and (iii) 51% 
of Aid for Trade commitments included climate -related objectives .  
4.4  Briefings on Transfer of Technology  
4.8.  At the June meeting, t he UN Climate Technology Centre and Network  (CTCN)  provided a 
briefing on its contribution to the transfer of climate technologies. CTNC's  mandate covered climate 
mitiga tion and adaptation technologies, and it had  enabled the transfer of over 360 technology 
solutions to over 107 countries , including  in SIDS and LDCs. A large part of its work was supporting 
countries to set up policies, regulatory standards, and a whole ra nge of incentive frameworks that 
countries needed to access the technology. In addition, the CTCN required companies to voluntarily 
join the network and share their available technologies with developing countries. Lastly, the CTCN 
worked  with the finance mechanism of the UNFCCC to enable developing countries leverage climate 
technologies that were environmentally sustainable and would allow them to meet their Paris 
Agreement goals.  
4.9.  The WTO Secretariat  gave a presentation on the 202 2 WTO Workshop on the Imp lementation 
of the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Article 66.2: 
Incentive for Technology Transfer for LDCs in the Area of Environment. The structure and format 
had been improved by providing an overview of the br oader development and policy context of 
technology transfer to LDCs.  
5  MEMBERS' PROPOSAL S  
5.1  Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD)  
5.1.  At the February meeting, Canada  noted that the TESSD Ministerial Statement had attracted 
71 co-sponsors accounting for 84% of global trade. A 2022 workplan was being designed, foreseeing 
the establishment of informal working groups to make progress towards tangible outcomes, while 
continuing to work with stakeholders. While some delegations thanked TE SSD's co -coordinators for 
their efforts in guiding the process, others expressed their views on: (i) building on the progress 
made at COP26; (ii) discussing how trade measures can address climate change and the need for 
discussions on trade -related climate  measures and policies being consistent with WTO rules and 
principles; (iii) fostering discussions on technical assistance and capacity building; (iv) continuing 
discussion on environmentally harmful subsidies (e.g. agricultural subsidies); (v) prioritizin g the 
links between sustainable trade and development; (vi) the need to make circularity inclusive and 
promote different circular economy approaches; and (vii) advancing discussions on progress on 
environmental goods and services.  WT/CTE/29  
 
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  5.2.  At the June meeting, Costa Rica  updated on the four thematic working groups that had been 
established within TESSD as per the TESSD Work Plan 2022 : (i) environmental goods and services; 
(ii) trade -related climate measures; (iii) circular economy - circularity; and (iv) subsidies . Some 
delegations expressed their support; one delegation suggested that discussions should focus on 
preferential access to sustainably produced goods.  
5.3.  At the October meeting, Canada  updated on recent activities of TESSD - which counted 
74 co-sponsors as of October 2022 - including the advancement and deepening of the discussions 
through: (i) sharing regional experiences, and (ii) technical presentations and discussions in the four 
working groups which had been substantively contributed by international organizations such as 
ISO, IMF, OECD, Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, as well as the WTO Secretariat. 
From the co -convenors' perspective, the discussions around environment al goods and services, 
trade -related climate measures, circular economy -circularity, and subsidies had been rich in 
substance. On carbon pricing, the role of the WTO and the importance of considering non -pricing 
measures gained attention. Several delegatio ns underlined the need to consider national conditions 
and the principle of CBDR. The upcoming plenary session on 11 November would be used for 
discussing possible work for next year and preparations for the high -level stocktaking event on 
2 December that would serve as a significant milestone towards MC13.  
6  RELATIONS WITH INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND NON -GOVERNMENTAL 
ORGANIZATIONS11 
6.1  Briefing on the UN Oceans Conference  
6.1.  At the June meeting, Portugal  updated that , together with Kenya, it would co -host the 2022 
United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon (27 June – 1 July 2022) with the aim of promoting 
ocean's sustainable management and stocktaking SDG14.  The Conference would include several 
plenary sessions and eigh t Interactive Dialogues on a wide range of issues, such as marine pollution, 
sustainable fisheries, science and marine technology transfer, as well as sustainable ocean -based 
economies. The outcomes would include a concise, action -oriented political declar ation adopted by 
consensus, a list of  voluntary commitments,  and a report of the interactive dialogues . These 
outcomes should contribute to promoting science -based solutions, innovations, and partnerships to 
achieve all targets of SDG14.  
6.2  Briefing on Trade and Environment Initiatives by APEC  
6.2.  At the June meeting, Thailand  provided a briefing on the Asia -Paciﬁc Economic Cooperation 
(APEC) 2022 updating on the recent APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting which had 
underscored the need to reach goals set  out in the Paris Agreement, recogni zed the important role 
that trade play ed in advancing sustainability , and welcomed efforts at the WTO to intensify work on 
trade and environment . It was also noted that the achievement of sustainable economic growth and 
climate objectives significantly had to rely  on clean energy transitions that were sustainable and 
inclusive.  On environmental goods, the meeting had welcomed the progress made in connection 
with the 2012 APEC List of Environmental Goods and updating the list to the Harmonized System 
2022 for reference purposes.  
6.3  Briefings by Observer Organizations  on Relevant Activities  
6.3.  At the February  meeting, the World Customs Organization (WCO)  provided updates on the 
initiatives being undertaken by the WCO  with regards to environmental sustainability and sustainable 
supply chains.  The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)  updated Members 
on UNIDO's coordinated and comprehensive strategy that tackled the climate agenda  while 
supporting d eveloping and least developed countries in advancing towards inclusive and sustainable 
industrial development.  
6.4.  At the February  and June meetings, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 
provided an update on its work on trade and the environment. U NEP briefed on the resumed Fifth 
 
11 Item 10 of the CTE Work Programme: " Input to the relevant bodies in respect of appropriate 
arrangements for relations with intergovernmenta l and non -governmental organizations referred to in Article V 
of the WTO ". WT/CTE/29  
 
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  Session of the UNEA taking place from 28  February to 2  March  2022 with the theme "Strengthening 
Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals".   
6.5.  At the October  meeting, the United Nations Economic Commissi on for Europe (UNECE)  briefed 
the Committee on its recent activities on trade and environment. On 17 October 2022, UNECE had 
also hosted "Towards COP27: UNECE Regional Forum on Climate Initiatives to Finance Climate Action 
and the SDGs”.  The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)  briefed the 
Committee on its recent activities , including the  released and forthcoming reports on trade and 
environment . 
7  TWELFTH  WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE (MC12)  
7.1.  At the June meeting, the Chairperson  invite d Members to express views and comments on the 
CTE and trade and environment messages for the upcoming MC12.  Several delegations  highlighted 
that Members' discussions at the CTE  showed the potential that international trade and trade policy 
could play in sup port of efforts to address climate change. They also supported the inclusion of a 
paragraph in the MC12 Outcome Document on the WTO's work on trade and environmental 
sustainability issues, including in the CTE. This would reflect the current state of play at the CTE by 
recognizing the role that trade policy could and must play to address issues like climate change and 
biodiversity loss. Some delegations also underscored that WTO Members needed to continue to show 
determination in tackling the triple planeta ry crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, 
which was compounded by unsustainable consumption and production. Trade policy had to support 
the transition to a climate -neutral, nature -positive circular economy in which resources were kept i n 
the economy for as long as possible, emissions were minimized and impacts on ecosystems were 
reduced.  
7.2.  At the October  meeting, the Chairperson  invited Members to express views and comments on 
the CTE and trade and paragraph 14 of the MC12 outcome documen t. More specifically, delegations 
were asked to assess the sufficiency of the current output of the CTE in light of global challenges 
and welcomed suggestions to improve the relevance and reactivity of the CTE. Several delegations  
recalled that all WTO Members had recognized the role of the multilateral trading system to address 
global environmental challenges and highlighted that the CTE offers a valuable forum to enhance 
transparency and share best practice. Delegations also  expressed commitment to the CT E as the 
standing Committee to discuss trade and environment measures and noted the importance of 
dynamic discussions and presentations on emerging policy choices relevant to environment and 
climate change. One delegation referred to  the need to continue i mproving CTE's work, as well as 
its transparency functions, possibly by introducing thematic discussions. Another delegation noted 
that paragraph 14 does not speak to the CTE mandate and emphasized the importance of the Doha 
mandate . 
8  OTHER BUSINESS  
8.1.  Australia  and Singapore  informed the CTE that the Singapore -Australia Green Economy 
Agreement (GEA) was signed on 18 October 2022. This first -of-its-kind agreement buil t on existing 
cooperation between the two countries to act on climate change, strengthen  trade and investment 
in clean energy across regions, and assist in advancing net -zero ambitions. The agreement  identified 
seven key areas of cooperation for future work: trade and investment; standards and conformity; 
green and transition finance; carbon markets; clean energy, decarbonisation and technology; skills 
and capabilities; and engagements and partnerships.  The GEA also include d a non -binding list of 
372 environmental goods and 155 environmental services which could  be adapted and enhanced 
over ti me, and which could  also contribute to multilateral discussions on liberalising trade in 
environmental goods and services, including in the WTO.   
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  ANNEX 1: ITEMS OF THE CTE WORK PROGRAMME (1994)  
Item 1:  The relationship between the provi sions 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 significant 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 provisions 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 mu ltilateral trading system with respect 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 mechanism s 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, a nd 
environmental benefits of removing 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 Decision 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/29  
 
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  ANNEX 2: DOHA MINISTERIAL DECLARATION PARAGRAPHS  
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 attention 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 dis tortions 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, i ncluding the desirability of 
negotiations.  […] 
 
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 t hat expertise 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 Tr ade 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 refl ected.  
 
  WT/CTE/29  
 
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  ANNEX 3: PARAGRAPH 14 OF THE MC12 OUTCOME DOCUMENT (WT/MIN(22)/24)  
14. We recognize global environmental challenges including climate change and related natural 
disasters, loss of biodiversity and pollution. We note the importance of the contribu tion of the 
multilateral trading system to promote the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals 
in its economic, social, and environmental dimensions, in so far as they relate to WTO mandates and 
in a manner consistent with the respective needs  and concerns of Members at different levels of 
economic development. In this regard, we reaffirm the importance of providing relevant support to 
developing country Members, especially LDCs, to achieve sustainable development, including 
through technologic al innovations. We note the role of the Committee on Trade and Environment as 
a standing forum dedicated to dialogue among Members on the relationship between trade measures 
and environmental measures.  
 
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