WT/CTE/W/259  
 
9 February 2024  
(24-1147) Page: 1/4 
Committee on Trade and Environment  Original: English  
 
 
A PROPOSAL FOR DEDICATED MULTILATERAL DISCUSSIONS ON THE TRADE ASPECTS  
AND IMPLICATIONS OF CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES  
COMMUNICATION FROM SAMOA ON BEHALF OF THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND  
PACIFIC GROUP  OF STATES (ACP)  
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1  BACKGROUND  
1.1.  Home to around 1.25 billion people1, across three continents, the ACP Group countries span a 
diverse range of states comprising "L east-Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing 
States (SIDS), Small Vulnerable Economies (SVEs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), 
Preference Dependent Economies (PDEs), Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs), 
Highly Indebted Poo r Countries (HIPC), limited commodity -exporting countries, and countries in war, 
post-conflict, and post -natural disaster situations"2. 
1.2.  While nationals of African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States ( ACP) member countries 
represent around 15% of the gl obal population worth around 8 billion total in 2023, a conservative 
estimate of the percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions produced by ACP W orld Trade 
Organization (WTO)  Member countries represents less than 4%3. Greenhouse gas emissions are the 
most significant cause of climate change4 resulting in the sharp increase of extreme weather 
patterns; natural disasters; drought; desertification; significant shortage of crops and food; and 
biodiversity loss5. To achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050, it is essential to achieve a fair and 
just transition towards a carbon -neutral economy and global trading system. In addition, cooperation 
is essential to support developing countries in meeting their Nationally determined contributions  
(NDCs) . 
1.3.  At MC12, Ministers highlighted the critical role of trade and the multilateral trading system in 
promoting sustainable development and the need to provide "relevant support to developing country 
Members, especially LDCs, to achieve sustainable development, in cluding through technological 
innovations"6. The ACP Group welcomes the reinvigoration of the Committee on Trade and 
Environment (CTE) to pursue dedicated discussions on issues and areas at the nexus of trade and 
environmental measures, including a focus on the needs and priorities of developing countries. 
Against the backdrop of new forms of industrial policy with a significant environmental dimension 
introduced across advanced economies, the call by trade Ministers at MC12 resonates further and 
renders c ooperation within the W TO on this matter all the more urgent.  
2  POSSIBLE THEMES FOR THE CTE TO ADDRESS  
2.1.  The focus of the discussions within the CTE can draw inspiration from several Initiatives and 
Declarations rooted in the ACP region, which outline the prio rities and needs of ACP members and 
developing countries in a broader sense . The Bridgetown Initiative7, a global  appeal led by Barbados, 
 
1 https://www.unfpa.org/data/world -population -dashboard .  
2 WT/MIN(21)/3 . 
3 https://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/report_2023?vis=tot#emissions_table .  
4 https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes -effects -climate -change . 
5 https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/wtr22_e.htm .  
6 WT/MIN(22)/24 . 
7 https://pmo.gov.bb/wp -content/uploads/2022/10/The -2022-Bridgetown -Initiative.pdf . WT/CTE/W/259  
 
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  underscores the vital need for reform of the international financial architecture and the urgent need 
to ramp up investment toward s developing countries for governments to respond to a 
triple planetary crisis, induced by a sharp increase in the cost of living, the debt explosion, and the 
climate crisis.  
2.2.  The African Leaders Nairobi Declaration on Climate Change and Ca ll to Action8, launched on 
8 September  2023, calls for the development of "global standards, metrics, and market mechanisms 
to accurately value and compensate for the protection of nature, biodiversity, socio -economic 
co-benefits, and the provision of cli mate service". This is illustrated by the role of carbon sinks that 
the African continent provides in abundance. The CTE could provide an avenue to discuss possible 
harmonization and mutual recognition of such standards, especially in light of the complex nature 
of the discussions related to deforestation regulations.  
2.3.  Another relevant area highlighted by the African Leaders for the CTE to consider could be to 
explore the role of trade in scaling up the diffusion of renewable energy, notably in coordination with 
international financial institutions. We must highlight for instance that Kenya is already a leading 
country "in the number of solar panel systems installed per person"9. Furthermore, the 
African  Leaders refer to the important role of facilitating "a ccess to, and transfer of environmentally 
sound technologies", which could be discussed in the context of the CTE in coordination with the 
Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology.  
2.4.  The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent10 highlights  the essential role of the ocean 
within the earth's ecosystem and the need to preserve the oceans' resources while eradicating 
pollution. The Strategy envisioned by the Pacific Islands countries underscores the need to 
"strengthen regional coordination and coop eration, including policy, regulatory and legislative 
measures that reflect a precautionary approach to address both the sustainable use and 
environmental conservation of ocean and land -based environment."  
2.5.  In this regard, the WTO can play a fundamental rol e in shaping novel multilateral mechanisms 
to support developing countries' recovery from climate disasters, notably through existing structures 
such as the Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance that could establish linkages with the CTE 
in crafting com mon recommendations and policy options.  
2.6.  The CTE could explore ways to promote cooperation as governments design regulatory 
measures that preserve the oceans, while also creating opportunities for sustainable and novel forms 
of business and trade derived fr om the blue economy such as seaweed for food consumption and 
products derived from plastics substitutes11. It should be highlighted that Mauritius has pursued an 
ambitious goal, under its "Vision 2030", to expand its blue economy to serve its broader Susta inable 
Development Goals (SDGs). It has provided financial incentives for investment in sustainable forms 
of fishing and aquaculture. It also introduced new legislation the "Environment Protection Act" and 
"Climate Change Act" to protect its coastal enviro nment.12 
3  AREAS FOR ENHANCED COOPERATION AND INITIATIVES  
3.1.  Between 2009 and 2022, ACP countries notified a total of 1'59913 trade related environment 
measures. The most common type of measure notified by our Group consists of technical regulation 
and conformi ty assessment related procedures with a total of 1'022 and accounting for around 64% 
of all notified measures. This highlights the scope for enhanced cooperation for mutual recognition 
and promoting harmonization of technical regulations and conformity ass essments aimed at 
environmental conservation and protection that are already in place across ACP countries and those 
adopted by ACP trading partners. The Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee held a thematic 
session on regulatory cooperation between Members on climate change14 and highlighted this 
 
8 https://media.africaclimatesummit.org/Final+declaration+1709 -English.pdf?request -content -
type=%22application/force -download . 
9 https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/wtr22_e/wtr22_e.pdf . 
10 https://www.forumsec.org/wp -content/uploads/2022/08/PIFS -2050-Strategy -Blue-Pacific -Continent -
WEB-5Aug2022.pdf . 
11 https://unctad.org/sys tem/files/official -document/ditcted2023d1_en.pdf ; RD/CTE/229  
12 https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/wtr22_e/wtr22_e.pdf . 
13 https://edb.wto.org/ . 
14 https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/tbt_0703202315_e/tbt_0703202315_e.htm . WT/CTE/W/259  
 
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  dimension. An example was provided in relation to wind turbines and the existence of over 
400 different regulatory requirements worldwide15. 
3.2.  The organic trade sector is another area of particular interest to  the ACP Group in which its 
Members can develop a comparative advantage. However, there is room for progress in terms of 
scaling up and diversifying production across subsectors. For instance, through investment and 
training, ACP countries can utilize raw materials for transformation into higher value -added finished 
goods such as pharmaceutical products, perfumery, and other forms of higher value -added products. 
There should be a concerted effort in the CTE to take account of the natural methods and traded 
products in developing countries that are environmentally friendly and adapted. This is an 
opportunity for all WTO Members. These products should be supported and there should not be 
additional constraints on trade in those products.  
3.3.  Ghana, Vanuatu and Swi tzerland, in collaboration with the United Nations Development 
Programme, unveiled at COP27 a novel form of enhanced cooperation involving a voluntary approach 
to transfer mitigation outcomes in exchange for training of farmers in the case of Ghana and 
increasing access to renewable energy in the case of Vanuatu16. For Ghanaian farmers, the training 
can enhance their ability to reduce methane emissions and better manage water consumption. For 
Vanuatu, the collaboration supports efforts in meeting its object ives under its NDCs Implementation 
Roadmap by promoting sustainable energy consumption.  
3.4.  In the context of the Pacific region, an important initiative pertains to the decarbonization of 
shipping under the "Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership" involving Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, 
Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, wherein the partnering countries aim to entirely 
decarboni ze the sector by 2050.17 
4  COMMENT ON RECENT PROPOSALS  
4.1.  The recent proposals by India and the Africa Group on the issue of technology transfer 
underscore the critical role played by environmental technologies to promote a transition towards a 
carbon -neutral global economic system. In this regard, to build on th e issues highlighted in those 
proposals, the WTO Secretariat could support in preparing a note that maps existing technologies 
relevant to adapting and mitigating the impact of climate change as well as supporting the adoption 
of renewable energy.  
4.2.  The CTE could also assist in efforts to convene a series of workshops and webinars to highlight 
the work of international institutions and stakeholders to promote the uptake of environmental 
technologies. The WTO Environmental Database could also serve as a gatewa y to explore on a 
dedicated page of the Database relevant environmental technologies available to support the 
transition towards novel forms of production and services.  
4.3.  Synergies could be developed in the discussions under the Work Programme on Electronic 
Commerce and identify relevant services delivered electronically such as weather forecasts and early 
warning systems of impending natural disasters, to facilitate the scaling up and diffusion of such 
services. There is also value in discussing trade -relate d environmental measures and policies based 
on certain guiding principles as the Africa Group outlines in its communication. Such principles can 
provide a reference point and guidance in the design of green industrial policy to reduce trade 
frictions and a void disguised restrictions.  
4.4.  Given that most developing countries and least developed countries account for a fraction of 
the effects of industrialization recorded over the last two centuries, it is essential that the discussions 
within the WTO and the CTE  in particular, factor in the historical responsibility of industrially 
advanced economies. In other words, a transition to a carbon -neutral global economic and trading 
system must not be viewed in a vacuum and in isolation from the broader context and set ting in 
which countries have developed throughout the industrial era. It is worth recalling that after the 
entry into force of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and subsequently the WTO, 
 
15 G/TBT/GEN/352 . 
16 https://www.undp.org/geneva/press -releases/ghana -vanuatu-and-switzerland -launch -worlds -first-
projects -under -new-carbon -market -mechanism -set-out-article -62-paris-agreement . 
17 https://www.wto.org/en glish/res_e/booksp_e/wtr22_e/wtr22_e.pdf . WT/CTE/W/259  
 
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  some of the economic policies that previously benefit ted the development of the current advanced 
economies such as high tariffs and large subsidies are not allowed under the current trade regime.  
4.5.  The CTE can provide a forum for more in -depth exploration of the relevant means to better 
mainstream development and the priorities of developing countries and least developed countries in 
the context of the policy discussions on trade and environment. This would entail identifying, based 
on consensus and transparency, the policy tools and flexibility in the rules av ailable for developing 
countries and least developed countries to embrace carbon -neutral pathways to industrialize. In 
particular, in light of the evolving comparative advantage induced by climate change, Members could 
potentially identify emerging green s ectors and bio products naturally traded in our countries that 
would benefit from increased investment.  
4.6.  Furthermore, as highlighted by the Africa Group, due to the challenges related to 
harmonization, developing countries and LDCs would greatly benefit fro m the opportunity to 
comment on and shape emerging environmental standards and regulations that impact market 
access. The CTE could play a pivotal role in this regard in work on how to facilitate mutual recognition 
of existing standards in place in develop ing countries and LDCs.  
5  POSSIBLE PATHWAYS FORWARD  
5.1.  The reinvigoration of the CTE can be buttressed through active outreach and synergies with 
other relevant WTO bodies and WTO processes to develop coherent policy recommendations to 
support each WTO Member a nd operate a fair and just transition towards a net zero future in line 
with national priorities and needs. We must recall that many small delegations face capacity 
constraints to engage in every trade policy discussion and deliberation at the WTO, due to conflicts 
of schedule and overlapping meetings. To provide transparency concerning the discussions to be 
held in the various thematic groups and various configurations of the CTE, we would call for regular 
updates by the Chair of the CTE to the Chair of th e General Council during regular or informal 
sessions open to all Members. This could also provide an additional spotlight on the various issues 
covered in the CTE and send a strong signal to the international community of the trade community' 
resolve to t ackle climate change.  
5.2.  Concerning MC13, the WTO Membership could identify the key outcomes at COP28 that 
international trade could support in operationalizing. In addition, the WTO Membership could 
highlight core thematic areas corresponding to Members' col lective priorities around which the 
discussions within the CTE would seek to articulate key trade policy recommendations to promote 
cooperation.  
5.3.  The ACP membership will also work with the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate, and we 
encourage other WTO Members to consider supporting and joining the Coalition of Trade Ministers 
on Climate. As it stands, the Coalition will provide the impetus to enhance the conversation on the 
importance of climate discussions within the trade context and how the WTO can ma ke meaningful 
contributions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ) conference 
and relevant climate negotiations. Consideration of Members can also be provided for the WTO to 
develop a new process or re -launch climate change c onversation within the CTE with the support of 
the secretariat. The new process should provide a platform for WTO Members States to share their 
experiences on the nexus between trade and climate and what could be the focus of the WTO in 
terms of addressing  the climate challenges. This process is geared towards ensuring the achievement 
of tangible results that would enable the WTO to allocate targeted support towards the mapping 
exercise and the relevant follow -up support to Members as highlighted in the pap er. 
 
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