WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
16 January 2007 
 (07-0219) 
Committee on Trade and Environment 
Special Session  
 
 
EXISTING FORMS OF COOPERATIO N AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE  
BETWEEN UNEP/MEAS AND THE WTO 
 
Note by the Secretariat  
 
Revision  
  
 
 
  
 
1. In Paragraph 31(ii) of the Doha Ministerial D eclaration, Ministers agreed to negotiations, 
without prejudging their outcome, on "procedures fo r regular information exchange between MEA 
Secretariats and the relevant WTO committees, and the criteria for the granting of observer status."
1  
Moreover, the Doha Ministerial Declaration contai ns a number of references to the importance of 
cooperation and information exchange.  In the Prea mble, Ministers welcomed "the WTO's continued 
cooperation with UNEP and other inter-governme ntal environmental organizations. [They 
encouraged] efforts to promote cooperation be tween the WTO and rele vant international 
environmental and developmental organizations, especially in the lead-up to the World Summit on 
Sustainable Development to be held in Joha nnesburg, South Africa, in September 2002."  
2. At the launch of the negotiations in 2002, th e Secretariat was requested to prepare a note 
informing the participants of existing informati on exchange practices between the WTO and MEAs to 
assist the CTESS discussions on the information exch ange component of pa ragraph 31(ii) mandate.2  
The note entitled " Existing Forms of Cooperation and Information Exchange between the 
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) /Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) 
and the WTO" was prepared in response to that request.  Th is present paper is the recent update of that 
note.3 
3. The note addresses the following topics:  (i ) existing forms of cooperation between 
UNEP/MEAs and the WTO:  arrangement between th e WTO and UNEP Secretariats (pages 2-3);  (ii) 
existing forms of information exchange Betwee n UNEP/MEAs and the WTO:  MEA Information 
Sessions in the CTE;  and WTO side events in MEAs (pages 3-6); (iii) respective Secretariats' 
technical cooperation activities:  WTO trade a nd environment regional seminars;  and UNEP-
UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force (CBTF) a nd UNEP meetings back-to-back with the CTE 
(pages 6-9);  (iv) background notes on MEAs (page 9) ;  and (v) observer status:  MEA observership in 
the WTO;  and WTO observership in UNEP and MEAs (pages10-11).    
_______________ 
                                                      
1 WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1, 20 November 2001. 
2 Summary Report on the First Meeting of the CTE Special Session (TN/TE/R/1, 19 April 2002). 
3 The previous update was made on 17 February 2005 (TN/TE/S/2/Rev.1).  This document has been prepa red under the Secretariat's own 
responsibility and without prejudice to the positions of Members 
and to their rights and obligations under the WTO TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 2  
 
  I. EXISTING FORMS OF COOPERATION BETWEEN UNEP/MEAs AND THE WTO 
A. A
RRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE WTO  AND UNEP  SECRETARIATS  
4. On 29 November 1999, a cooperation arrangement  between the WTO and UNEP Secretariats 
was concluded and its elements deta iled in the following press release: 
Elements of Cooperation between the WTO and UNEP  
Press Release – Press/154 – 29 November 1999  
A global arrangement between the Secretariat of the World Trade 
Organization and the United Nations as a whole was agreed between the two Secretariats in an ex change of lette rs between the 
Director-General of the WTO and the Secretary-General of the 
United Nations on 29 September 1995.  In accordance with the 
mandate given to the Secretariat of the WTO and the mandate given 
to the Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), recognition is given to the importance of cooperation and 
collaboration between the two Secretar iats with respect to their work 
on issues of mutual interest. 
Recalling the commitment of Members to continue to improve efforts 
towards the objective of sustaina ble development, the WTO and 
UNEP Secretariats have elaborated the following elements of cooperation between their respective organizations.  This cooperation 
will take place in the context of our respective mandates and within 
our respective resources.   
Building on the global arrangement  between the UN and the WTO, 
consultations have been held betw een the Director-General of the 
WTO and the Executive-Director of UNEP to further effective cooperation between the two Secretaria ts in areas of mutual interest 
and to help achieve the aims of the Rio Declaration.  It is understood 
that cooperation between the WTO and UNEP Secretariats should encompass practical measures which could assist in the smooth and efficient functioning of both organi zations in areas where interaction 
could be of mutual benefit.  Th e goal is to improve the working 
relationship at all levels in the two Secretariats, including with 
respect to technical cooperation and research initiatives. 
Cooperation between the WTO and UNEP Secretariats will thus 
include the provision and excha nge of relevant non-confidential 
information, including access to trade-related environmental databases, and reciprocal representation at meetings of a 
non-confidential nature, in accordan ce with the decisions of the 
competent bodies of the respective organizations.  With respect to participation and representation, it is noted that the WTO Secretariat is an observer of the Governing Council of UNEP, and UNEP is an 
observer of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment. 
Building on past practice, the Secretariats of the two organizations 
will also continue, as appr opriate, their cooperation and  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 3 
 
 
  collaboration, in particular thro ugh informal staff meetings and 
information sessions, including where feasible with the participation of the Secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.   
Capacity building for developing countries and countries with 
economies in transition is another form of cooperative activity 
between the two Secretariats which could usefully be continued and 
further strengthened, thus contributing to raising awareness on the linkages between trade, environment and sustainable development and the development of policies which integrate sustainable development considerations with tr ade policies.  We agree to work 
for complementarity in technical cooperation with the aim of 
improving cooperation across the board and making better use of available resources. 
II. EXISTING FORMS OF INFORMATION EXCHANGE BETWEEN UNEP/MEAS   
AND THE WTO 
A. MEA
 INFORMATION SESSIONS IN THE CTE 
5. The CTE has invited a number of MEA Secretariats to participate in a total of eight 
Information Sessions from 1997 to date.  MEA S ecretariats presented background notes on their 
respective MEAs and responded to questions from Members on the trade-related aspects of their 
agreements.  Since 1997, the following MEAs ha ve participated in CTE Information Sessions:4  (see 
Table 1 below) 
1. The Basel Convention on the Control of  Transboundary Movements of Hazardous 
Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) 
2. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Biosafety Protocol 
3. The Convention for the Conservation of  Atlantic Marine Living Resources 
(CCAMLR) 
4. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 
Flora (CITES) 
5. The International Commission for the C onservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 
6. The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) 
7. The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) 
8. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 
(Montreal Protocol) 
9. The Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for 
Certain Hazardous Chemicals and P esticides in International Trade 
10. The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 
11. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 
12. The United Nations Framework Conven tion on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 
13. The United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement (UN Fish Stocks) 
14. The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)  
                                                      
4 While not MEAs per se , the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Multilateral Fund for the 
Implementation of the Montreal Protocol have also participated. TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 4  
 
   
Table 1:  MEA Information Sessions in the CTE 
 
Date MEAs Participating Documents Crculated by MEAs 
22-24 September 1997 
(WT/CTE/M/15) 
 
 
 Basel Convention  
CBD CITES  
GEF  
Montreal Protocol  Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol  UNCLOS  
UNEP Chemicals on PIC 
and POPS Conventions UNEP 
 Basel Convention (W/CTE/W/55)   
CBD (WT/CTE/W/64) CITES (WT/CTE/W/63) 
GEF (WT/CTE/W/58) 
Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/57) Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/60) UNCLOS (WT/CTE/W/62) UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPS 
Conventions (WT/CTE/W59)  
UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/61) 
23-24 July 1998 
(WT/CTE/M/18) Basel Convention 
CBD  ECE POPS Protocol ICCAT 
IFF 
ITTO UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPS Conventions UNFCCC 
UNEP 
 Basel Convention (WT/CTE/W/90) 
CBD (WT/CTE/W/92)   ECE POPS Protocol (WT/CTE/W/88) ICCAT (WT/CTE/W/87) 
IFF (WT/CTE/W/84) 
ITTO (WT/CTE/W/89) UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPS Conventions (WT/CTE/W/91) UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/74) 
UNEP (WT/CTE/W/94) 
29-30 June 1999 
(PRESS/TE/029) CITES  
IFF ITTO Montreal Protocol UNFCCC 
 CCAMLR (WT/CTE/W/113 and CORR.1)  
CBD (WT/CTE/W/116) CITES (WT/CTE/W/119) IFF (WT/CTE/W/122) ITTO (WT/CTE/W/120) 
Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/115) 
UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/123) 
 
5-6 July 2000 
(WT/CTE/M/24) CBD  
ICCAT  Montreal Protocol  UNFCCC UNEP 
 CBD (WT/CTE/W/149 and WT/CTE/W/136) 
CCAMLR (WT/CTE/W/148) ICCAT (WT/CTE/W/152) Montreal Protocol (WT/CTE/W/142) UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/153) 
UNEP (WT/CTE/W/155) 
 
24-25 October 2000 
(WT/CTE/M/25) 5 Basel Convention 
CBD CITES  IFF  Basel Convention (WT/CTE/W/163 and 
CORR.1) CITES (WT/CTE/W/165) IFF (WT/CTE/W/164) 
                                                      
5 Opening statements were made by the Dir ector-General of the WTO, Mr. Mike Moore 
(WT/CTE/W/178) and the Executiv e Director of UNEP, Dr. Klaus Töpfer (WT/CTE/W/179) at this 
Information Session.  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Date MEAs Participating Documents Crculated by MEAs 
UNEP chemicals on PIC 
and POPS Conventions  
UNFCCC UNEP ITTO (WT/CTE/W/169) 
UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPS 
Conventions (WT/CTE/W/166) UNFCCC (WT/CTE/W/174) UNEP (WT/CTE/W/179) 
 
27-28 June 2001 
(WT/CTE/M/27) Basel Convention  
Biosafety Protocol CBD 
CITES  
Montreal Protocol UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPS Conventions UNFCCC 
UN Fish Stocks 
UNEP 
 The following MEAs contributed to a 
background paper jointly prepared by the WTO and UNEP Secretariats on Compliance and 
Dispute Settlement Provisions in the WTO and in MEAs – Note by the WTO and UNEP 
Secretariats (WT/CTE/W/191): 
Basel Convention  Biosafety Protocol 
CBD 
CCAMLR  CITES  ICCAT  Montreal Protocol 
UNEP Chemicals on PIC and POPS 
Conventions UNFCCC UN Fish Stocks 
13 June 2002 
(WT/CTE/M/30) UNEP 
CITES PIC POPS 
UNFCCC 
CBD Basel Convention ITTO UNFF 
UN Fish Stocks  
UNCLOS 
   The following MEAs contributed to a 
background paper prepared for this Information Session on Technical Assistance, Capacity Building and Enhancing Information Exchange 
(WT/CTE/W/209): 
UNEP CITES Basel Convention  UNFCCC 
CBD 
ITTO UNCLOS Other documents:  UNEP (WT/CTE/W/213) 
12 November 2002 
(TN/TE/R/4) UNFCCC 
CBD 
UNEP 
PIC POPS ITTO UNFF Basel Convention UNEP (TN/TE/INF/2 AND 3) 
 
 TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 6  
 
  B. WTO
 SIDE EVENTS IN MEA S 
6. The WTO Secretariat organizes technical assistance  workshops ("side events") in parallel to 
some of the main MEA Conference of the Parties' meetings.  The objective of such events is to 
enhance understanding of WTO rules, and to create a forum for information exchange between the 
WTO Secretariat and MEAs.   
7. Since 2002, eleven side events have  been held at the margins of: 
• the Second Session of the UNFF (March 2002, New York); 
• the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD (April 2002, 
  The Hague);  
• the Twelfth Meeting of the COP to the CITES (November 2002, Santiago); 
• the Sixth Meeting of the COP to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the 
Ozone Layer and the Fourteenth Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol of Montreal (November 2002, Rome);  
• the Sixth Meeting of the COP to the Basel  Convention (December 2002, Geneva);   
• the Thirty-Fourth Session of the International Tropical Timber Council (May 2003, 
Panama City); 
• the Third Session of the UNFF (June 2003, Geneva); 
• the First Meeting of the COP to the Rotterdam Convention (September 2004, 
Geneva);   
• the Seventh Meeting of the COP to the Basel  Convention (October 2004, Geneva);    
• the First Meeting of the COP to the Stockholm Convention (May 2005, Punta del 
Este); and  
• the Second Meeting of COP to the Rotterdam Convention (September 2005, Rome). 
 
8. The Doha Development Agenda was discussed  at the side events, with a focus on 
Paragraphs 31 and 32 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.  In addition, the WTO rules on areas of 
specific interest to the MEAs in question were addr essed.  For instance, at the UNFF side event, WTO 
rules relevant to certificati on and labelling were presented. 
III. RESPECTIVE SECRETARIATS' TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES  
A. WTO
 TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT REGIONAL SEMINARS  
9. Regional Seminars on Trade and Environment for developing countries and economies in 
transition have been organized by the WTO Secretar iat since 1998.  The objective of these seminars is 
to raise awareness on the linkages between trade, environment and sustainable development and to 
promote greater dialogue between trade and enviro nment policy makers at national levels in WTO 
Members and acceding governments, as well as to facilitate sharing of national experiences among 
Members in the regions.  For each event, partic ipating governments are invited to nominate two 
officials from capital;  one responsible for trade i ssues and one responsible for environmental issues. 
10. Lately, the overall objective of the regional work shops has been to facilitate and enhance the 
effective participation of Members in the WTO's work on trade and environment and in particular 
with respect to the trade and environment -related topics being negotiated under the Doha 
Development Agenda.  In all regiona l workshops, participants were in formed of the regular work of 
the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) and also updated on the different aspects of the 
trade and environment-related nego tiations.  As well, programmes are tailored to the interests of the 
respective regions and are interactive and designed to ensure full engagement from the participants.  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 7 
 
 
  11. Since 1999, so as to benefit from their exper tise, the WTO Secretar iat has been inviting 
UNEP, the Secretariats of United Nations Conf erence on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and 
MEAs to participate in these seminars. 
Table 2:  List of WTO Trade and Environmen t Regional Seminars in which UNEP, UNCTAD, 
and MEAs Participated or were Represented  
Date Region and Venue MEA, UNEP and 
UNCTAD Participation 
12-14 December 2006 English-speaking African countries, in 
Gaborone, Botswana UNEP, UNCTAD 
22-24 November 2006 French-speaking African countries, in 
Rabat, Morocco UNCTAD, CBD 
28-29 March 2006 Arab and Middle East countries, in 
Muscat, Oman UNEP, UNCTAD 
13-14 December 2005 Central a nd Eastern Europe, Central 
Asia and the Caucasus, in Vienna, 
Austria  UNEP, UNCTAD 
19-21 July 2005 Latin America and the Caribbean, in 
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic UNEP, UNCTAD 
14-16 June 2005 Asian and Pacific Economies, in 
Manila, the Philippines UNEP, UNCTAD 
15-16 October 2004 Sub-Saharan African countries held in 
Geneva UNEP, UNCTAD, 
Basel Convention 
10-11 May 2004 Asia and Pacific countries held in 
Hanoi, Vietnam UNCTAD 
17-19 February 2004 Arab and Middle East countries held in 
Amman, Jordan UNCTAD, 
Rotterdam Convention 
9-11 December 2003 Central, Eastern European and Central 
Asian countries held in Budapest, Hungary UNEP, UNCTAD 
25-26 November 2003 Caribbean countries held in  Kingston, 
Jamaica UNEP, UNCTAD 
19-21 May 2003 English-speaking African countries 
held in Cape Town, South Africa UNEP, UNCTAD, 
Basel Convention TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 8  
 
  Date Region and Venue MEA, UNEP and 
UNCTAD Participation 
25-27 February 2003 Latin American countries held in  
Santa Cruz, Bolivia UNCTAD, 
Basel Convention, CITES 
26-28 November 2002 Pacific island economies held in Suva, 
Fiji UNEP, UNCTAD 
15-17 October 2002 French-speaking African countries 
held in Tunis, Tunisia  UNCTAD, CITES 
10-12 September 2002 Central Eu ropean and Central Asian 
countries held in Riga, Latvia UNEP, UNCTAD, UNFCCC
8-10 July 2002 English-speaking African countries 
held in Windhoek, Namibia UNEP, UNCTAD 
13-15 May 2002 Asian countries held in Singapore UNEP, UNCTAD 
5-7 March 2002 Latin American countries held in 
Bogotá, Colombia UNCTAD 
28-30 January 2002 Caribbean countries held in 
Saint Lucia UNEP, UNCTAD, CITES, 
Basel Convention, 
Montreal Protocol 
27-29 March 2001 Asian countri es held in Chiang Mai, 
Thailand UNEP, UNCTAD 
6-8 November 2000 Latin American countries held in 
Buenos Aires UNEP, UNCTAD 
11-13 July 2000 French-speaking least-developed and 
developing sub-Saharan African countries held in Libreville, Gabon UNEP, UNCTAD, 
Basel Convention 
23-25 May 2000 Middle East countries and Malta held 
in La Valetta, Malta UNCTAD, UNEP, 
Basel Convention 
11-13 April 2000 English-speaking least-developed and 
developing African countries held in Cape Town, South Africa UNCTAD 
8-10 February 1999 English-speaking least-developed and 
developing African countries held in 
Harare, Zimbabwe UNEP 
 
  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 9 
 
 
  12. The WTO Secretariat has scheduled three re gional seminars for 2007, in which UNEP, 
UNCTAD, and a number of MEAs will be invited to participate.  They will take place in the 
following regions:  Asia and Pacific, the Caribbean and Latin America. 
B. UNEP-UNCTAD  CAPACITY BUILDING TASK FORCE (CBTF)  AND UNEP  MEETINGS 
BACK-TO-BACK WITH THE CTE 
13. The WTO has collaborated closely with the activities of the CBTF.6  Annex 1 contains a list 
of CBTF activities that have involved the WTO Secretariat. 
14. To enhance developing and least-developed count ry engagement in trade and environment 
discussions at the international level, UNEP has al so organized a number of meetings back-to-back 
with the CTE over the years, and funded the particip ation of capital-based environment officials.  A 
list of these meetings is contained in Annex 2.  Other UNEP activities that have involved the WTO 
have included a meeting on "Capacity Building for Integrated Policy Design and Implementation for 
Sustainable Development – Developing Mutually Supportive Trade and Environment Policies", that 
was held in Jeju Island, Korea, on 27-28 March 2004.7 
IV. BACKGROUND NOTES ON MEAS 
15. In 2001, the WTO prepared a Background Note on Compliance and Dispute Settlement 
Provisions in the WTO and in MEAs  together with UNEP and a number of MEA Secretariats 
(WT/CTE/W/191, 6 June 2001).  The Note served as background material for an MEA Information 
Session held in the context of the CTE on the theme of compliance and dispute settlement.    
16. In 2002, in preparation for the Information Session with MEAs, the WTO, UNEP and 
selected intergovernmental organizations prepared  a note on trade-related technical assistance and 
capacity building activities, as well as on enhancin g cooperation and informat ion exchange between 
UNEP, MEAs and the WTO (WT/CTE/W/209, 5 June 2002).  
17. In addition, in 2001, 2003 and 2005, the WTO updated its Matrix on Trade Measures 
Pursuant to Selected MEAs  in cooperation with the following MEAs:8  the Basel Convention;  the 
Biosafety Protocol;  the CBD;  CCAMLR;  CITES;  ICCAT;  the ITTO;  the Montreal Protocol;  
POPs;  UNEP Chemicals on the PIC and POPs Conve ntions; the UNFCCC;  and UN Fish Stocks.  
The Matrix provides information on the trade meas ures contained in 14 environmental conventions 
and protocols.  Furthermore, a number of documents  on MEAs have been circulated in the CTE and 
CTESS by the WTO and by the MEA Secretariats, a full list of which is contained in Annex 3. 
                                                      
6 The UNEP-UNCTAD CBTF was conceived as a mean s of combining the technical expertise of 
UNCTAD and UNEP in implementing capacity building activities in developing countries and economies in transition (see document WT/CTE/W/138, dated 4 April 2000 on the UNEP-UNCTAD Capacity Building Task 
Force on Trade, Environment and Development ).  By enhancing synergies between UNEP and UNCTAD, the 
CBTF aims to ensure the efficient de livery of capacity building activities to a wide range of beneficiaries.  
CBTF capacity building activities fall into five major cluste rs:  country projects, thematic research, training, 
policy dialogue and networking.  The aim of the CBTF is to help countries, at their request, to effectively 
address trade, environment and development issues at the national level and to participate in deliberations at the international level.  Due to the extra-budgetary nature  of the CBTF, its capacity building activities have been 
launched in phases, based on the availability of financial resources.  CBTF Phase I was completed in 2000-2003 
and Phase II will run from 2004-2007.   
7 A synthesis paper of  the results of the meetings organized by UNEP on the MEA-WTO relationship 
can be found on the UNEP web site at www.unep.ch/etu.   It is entitled Enhancing Synergies and Mutual 
Supportiveness of Multilateral Environmental Ag reements and the World Trade Organization, and was issued in  
January 2002. 
8 WT/CTE/W/160/Rev.3 and TN/TE/S/5/Rev.1, 16 February 2005;  a further update is forthcoming. TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
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  V. OBSERVER STATUS 
A. MEA
 OBSERVERSHIP IN THE WTO 
18. A number of international intergovernmental orga nizations have been granted observer status 
in the CTE.9  Among them are UNEP and the following MEAs:  the CBD, CITES, ICCAT, and the 
UNFCCC.  At its 4 October 2001 meeting, the CTE agreed to postpone its discussion on requests by 
inter-governmental organizations for observer st atus in the CTE pending discussions on observer 
status in the General Council.10  At present, there are two pending MEAs' requests for observer status 
in the CTE.  These are from the ITTO11 and the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the 
Ozone Layer.12      
19. At its meeting of 12-13 February 2003, agreem ent was reached in the CTE Special Session to 
invite a number of organizations on an ad hoc, meeting-by-meeting basis.13  These organizations 
include UNEP and the following seven MEAs:14  the Basel Convention, the CBD, CITES, the 
Montreal Protocol, the Rotterdam Convention, the Stockholm Convention, and the UNFCCC. 15  
20. In terms of other WTO bodies, while UNEP has observer status in the Committee on Trade 
and Development (CTD), its request for such st atus in the General Council and the Council for 
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Ri ghts (TRIPS) are pending.  The CBD's requests for 
observer status in the TRIPS Council, the Comm ittee on Agriculture, the Committee on Sanitary and 
Phytosanitary Measures and the Committee on T echnical Barriers to Trade are also pending. 
21. Observer status in the WTO entitles internationa l organizations to receive WTO documents.  
According to General Council Rules of Procedure, "O bserver organizations shall receive copies of the 
main WTO documents series and of other documents series relating to the work of the subsidiary 
bodies which they attend as observers.  They may receive such additional documents as may be 
specified by the terms of any formal arrangeme nts for cooperation between them and the WTO."16 
B. WTO  OBSERVERSHIP IN UNEP  AND MEAS  
22. Over the past years, the WTO Secretariat has participated in sessions of the UNEP Governing 
Council.  This year, Mr. Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO, will participate at the Twenty-
Fourth Session of UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) to 
be held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 5-9 February 2007.  He will serve as a member of the Panel that will 
initiate the ministerial-level discussion on "Globali zation and the Environment in a Reformed United 
Nations."  
23. In addition to the WTO's observer status in the UNEP Governing Council17, the WTO attends, 
on a regular basis, the main meetings of MEAs which contain trade-related measures.  Most MEAs 
                                                      
9 WT/CTE/INF/6/Rev.3, 11 April 2006. 
10 WT/CTE/M/28. 
11 WT/CTE/COM/9, 9 July 2001. 
12 WT/CTE/COM/10, 4 September 2002. 
13 TN/TE/R/5. 
14 TN/TE/R/9.  UNCTAD, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and 
the World Customs Organization (WCO) are also amongst the ad hoc invitees of  the CTE in Special Session. 
15 The ITTO was invited to the 1-2 May 2003 and 8 July 2003 CTESS meetings (TN/TE/R/6 and 7). 
16 Rule 9 of Annex 3 on Observer Status for International Intergovernmental Organizations in the 
WTO  (WT/L/161, 25 July 1996). 
17 See the 4th paragraph of WTO Press Release 154 (29 November 1999), on the Elements of 
Cooperation between the WTO and UNEP , which is reproduced in this Note. 
  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
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  address the issue of the observership of international organizations in their statutes.  MEAs allow 
international organizations, who have expressed an interest, to attend meetings as observers.  The 
statutes of certain MEAs, for in stance, state the following:  
 
 Basel, Article 15.6:  
 
The United Nations, its specialized agencies, as well as any State not 
Party to this Convention, may be represented as observers at meetings of the Conference of th e Parties.  Any other body or 
agency, whether national or international, governmental or non-
governmental, qualified in fields relating to hazardous wastes or 
other wastes which has informed the Secretariat of its wish to be represented as an observer at a meeting of the Conference of Parties, may be admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object.  The admission and participation of observers shall be subject to the 
rules of procedure adopted by the Conference of the Parties. 
 
CBD, Article 23.5:  
The United Nations, its specialized  agencies and the International 
Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State not Party to this 
Convention, may be represented as observers at meetings of the 
Conference of the Parties.  Any other body or agency, whether governmental or non-governmental, qualified in fields relating to conservation and sustainable use of  biological diversity, which has 
informed the Secretariat of its wish  to be represented as an observer 
at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties, may be admitted unless 
at least one third of the Parties present object.  The admission and participation of observers shall be subject to the rules of procedure 
adopted by the Conference of the Parties.  
Stockholm Convention (POPs Agreement), Article 19.8: 
 The United Nations, its specialized  agencies and the International 
Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State not Party to this Convention, may be represented at meetings of the Conference of the 
Parties as observers.  Any body or agency, whether national or 
international, governmental or  non-governmental, qualified in 
matters covered by the Conventio n, and which has informed the 
Secretariat of its wish to be represented at a meeting of the Conference of the Parties as an observer may be admitted unless at least one third of the Parties present object.  The admission and participation of observers shall be subject to the rules of procedure 
adopted by the Conference of the Parties. 
 
 TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
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  ANNEX 1 
 
CBTF ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE WTO SECRETARIAT  
HAS BEEN INVOLVED
18 
 
Activity  
 Venue Date 
Launching workshop of the CBTF training modules on 
trade, environment and development   Havana, Cuba 10-14 December 2001 
Brainstorming meeting for interested developing 
countries on the post-Doha discussions and negotiations and related capacity-building needs, organized by UNEP, UNCTAD and the Agency for International Trade Information and Co-operation (AITIC) 
 Geneva 25 February 2002 
Workshop on post-Doha nego tiating issues on trade and 
environment in paragraph 31, held back-to-back with 
the WTO Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for Asian countries  Singapore 16 May 2002 
Workshop on post-Doha issues on trade and 
environment in paragraphs 31 and 32, held back-to-back 
with the WTO Regional Seminar on Trade and 
Environment for English-speaking African countries Windhoek, 
Namibia 10-11 July 2002 
Workshop on Post-Doha Issues on Trade and 
Environment, held back-to-back with the WTO 
Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for Pacific 
countries  Suva, Fiji 29 November 2002 
Workshop on Post-Doha Issues on Trade and 
Environment, held back-to-back with the WTO Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for African countries 
 Cape Town, 
South Africa 22 May 2003 
Workshop on Trade, Environment and Sustainable 
Development, held back-to-back with the WTO 
Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for Caribbean countries  Kingston, 
Jamaica 27-28 November 2003 
Workshop on Post-Doha Trade and Environment Issues, 
held back-to-back with the WTO Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for Asian and Pacific 
Economies  
  Manila, 
Philippines  16-17 June 2005 
Workshop on Post-Doha Trade and Environment Issues, 
held back-to-back with the WTO Regional Seminar on Trade and Environment for Latin America and the Caribbean  Santo 
Domingo, 
Dominican 
Republic  21-22 July 2005 
                                                      
18 Information on the CBTF events is available at the CBTF web site www.une p-unctad.org/cbtf/meetingslist1.asp.  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 13 
 
 
  ANNEX 2 
 
UNEP MEETINGS ORGANIZED BACK-TO-BACK WITH THE CTE19 
 
Meeting Venue Date 
Workshop with the Secretariats of UNEP Administered Conventions and the Secretariat of WTO 
 Geneva  28 June 1999  
Enhancing Synergies and Mutual Supportiveness of MEAs and 
the WTO  Geneva  23 October 2000  
Fisheries Subsidies Workshop  Geneva  12 February 
2001  
Compliance, Enforcement and Dispute Settlement in MEAs and 
the WTO  
 Geneva  26 June 2001  
Workshop on the Impacts of Trade-Related Policies on Fisheries 
and Measures for Sustainable Fisheries Management  
 Geneva  15 March 2002  
Workshop on Capacity Building on Environment, Trade and 
Development   Geneva  19-20 March 
2002  
UNEP/MEA Meeting on Enhancing MEA and WTO Information 
Exchange  
 Geneva  11 November 
2002  
Workshop on Fisheries Subsidies and Sustainable Fisheries 
Management  (back-to-back with a meeting of another WTO body)  Geneva  26-27 April 2004
"UNEP-WWF High-Level Press Event" and Panel Discussion on 
"Fisheries Subsidies Disciplines in the WTO:  Challenges and 
Opportunities" 
 (held during the Hong Kong Ministerial Conference)  
 Hong Kong, 
China  14-15 December 
2005 
"WTO Negotiations on Fishing Subsidies Briefing on Issues and Options for Developing Countries" (held during the WTO Geneva Week)  Geneva 27 April 2006 
"Informal Dialogue on Development and Sustainability in the 
WTO Fishery Subsidies Negotiations:  Issues and Alternatives" (back-to-back with a meeting of another WTO body) 
 Geneva 11 May 2006 
"Fisheries Subsidies:  WWF-UNEP Briefing and Consultation on 
Work in Progress" 
(back-to-back with a meeting of another WTO body)   Geneva 7 December 
2006 
 
  
                                                     
 
19 Chairman's summaries of the meetings are accessi ble on the UNEP web site at www.unep.ch/etu .   TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 14  
 
  ANNEX 3 
 
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS ON MEAS CIRCULATED IN THE CTE 
 
1. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous 
Wastes and their Disposal 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/163 and 
Corr.1 
 12 October 2000 The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary 
Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal – Communication from the Secretariat of the Basel Convention  
WT/CTE/W/130 and 
Corr.1 9 February 2000 Recent Developments in  MEAs (Montreal Protocol and the 
Basel Convention) – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/90 20 July 1998 The Base l Convention: Recent Developments – 
Communication from the Secretariat of the Basel Convention  
WT/CTE/W/86 8 July 1998 Recent Developm ents in the Base l Convention, the 
PIC Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity 
– Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/55 25 August 1997 Recent Trade-Rela ted Developments in the Basel Convention 
– Communication from the Secretariat of the 
Basel Convention  
WT/CTE/W/12 10 October 1995 Recent Developments  in the Montreal Protocol and the Basel 
Convention – Note by the Secretariat  
 
2. The Biosafety Protocol 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/235 8 June 2004 Decisions of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 
first meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on 
Biosafety of relevance to the WTO - Note by the Executive 
Secretary of the CBD  
WT/CTE/W/190 1 May 2001 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/136 30 March 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on 
Biological Diversity:  Text of the Protocol – Communication 
from the Secretariat of the CBD  
WT/CTE/W/124 9 August 1999 Convention on Biological Diversity:  Draft Protocol on 
Biosafety – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/117 28 June 1999 Convention on Biological Diversity – Draft Protocol on 
Biosafety: – Recent Developments – Note by the Secretariat  
  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 15 
 
 
  3. The Convention on Biological Diversity 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
TN/TE/INF/9/Rev.1 13 October 2004 Statement by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological 
Diversity (CBD) at the Commi ttee on Trade and Environment 
Special Session of 12-13 October 2004 - Paragraph 31 (i) - 
Revision 
TN/TE/INF/9 12 October 2004 Statement by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological 
Diversity (CBD) at the Commi ttee on Trade and Environment 
Special Session of 12-13 October 2004 - Paragraph 31 (i) 
WT/CTE/W/235 8 June 2004 Decisions of the seventh meeting of the Conference of the 
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the first 
meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety 
of relevance to the WTO - Note by the Executive Secretary of 
the CBD  
WT/CTE/W/210- 
IP/C/W/347/Add.1 10 June 2002 Review of the Provisions of Article 27.3(b), Relationship 
Between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on 
Biological Diversity and Protection of Traditional Knowledge 
and Folklore – Information from the Secretariat of the CBD  
WT/CTE/W/158 28 July 2000 Recent Developm ents in the Conven tion on Biological 
Diversity (CBD) – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/149 28 June 2000 Response of the Ex ecutive Secretary of the CBD to the Chair 
of the CTE – Communication from the Secretariat of the CBD  
WT/CTE/W/125 5 October 1999 The Relationship between the CBD and the 
TRIPS Agreement:  With a Fo cus on Article 27.3 (b) – Note 
by the WTO Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/116 28 June 1999 Response of the Executive Secretary of the Convention on 
Biological Diversity to the Request of the Chair of the CTE –  
Communication from the Secretariat of the CBD 
WT/CTE/W/92 22 July 1998 The Convention on Biological Diversity – Communication 
from the Secretariat of the CBD  
WT/CTE/W/86 8 July 1998 Recent Developmen ts in the Basel Convention, the PIC 
Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/64 29 September 1997 The Convention on Biological Diversity and its Relation to 
Trade – Communication from the E xecutive Secretary of the 
CBD  
WT/CTE/W/44 20 March 1997 Recent Developm ents in the Conven tion on Biological 
Diversity and the Montreal Protocol – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/18 12 January 1996 Recent Developments in the Convention on Biological 
Diversity – Note by the Secretariat  
 TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 16  
 
   
4. The Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Marine Living Resources 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/148 30 June 2000 The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine 
Living Resources – Communication from the Secretariat of 
the CCAMLR  
WT/CTE/W/113  
and Corr.1 28 May 1999 The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine 
Living Resources – Communication from the Secretariat of 
the CCAMLR  
 
5. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 
(CITES) 
 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/GEN/7 11 February 2003 Decision on Economic Incentives and Trade Policy –
Communication from the Secretariat of the CITES  
WT/CTE/GEN/6 20 November 2002 Eco nomic Incentives and Trade Policy – Communication 
from the Secretariat of the CITES  
WT/CTE/GEN/5 20 November 2002 Regular Session of the CTE of 8 October 2002 – Statement 
from the Secretariat of the CITES  
WT/CTE/W/165 13 October 2000 The Relationship between the Convention on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and 
the WTO – Communication from the Secretariat of the 
CITES  
WT/CTE/W/151 29 June 2000 Recent Devel opments in MEAs (CITES and POPs 
Convention) – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/119 25 June 1999 Background note on the Convention on International Trade in 
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and WTO  – 
Communication from the Secretariat of the CITES  
WT/CTE/W/71 21 November 1997 Recent Devel opments in the Conven tion on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – Note 
by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/63 17 September 1997 The Convention on International Trade in Endangered 
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – Communication from the 
Secretariat of the CITES  
  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 17 
 
 
   
6. The International Commission for th e Conservation of Atlantic Tunas  
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/152 29 June 2000 Conservation Measures Taken by the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas – Communication from the Secretariat of the ICCAT  
WT/CTE/W/87 16 July 1998 Stock Management Measures taken by the International 
Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in relation 
to trade measures – Communication from the Secretariat of 
the ICCAT  
 
7. The Intergovernmental Forum on Forests 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/164 12 October 2000 Intergovernmental Policy Deliberations on Forests: Trade and 
Environment – Communication from the Secretariat of the 
IFF  
WT/CTE/W/140 20 June 2000 Recen t Developments in the Intern ational Forum on Forests – 
Full Text of the Programme Element of the Intergovernmental 
Forum on Forests – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/122 29 June 1999 The Intergovernmental Policy Dialogue on Forests:  the 
Intergovernmental  Forum on Forests of The United Nations 
Commission on Sustainable Development – Communication 
from the Secretariat of the IFF  
WT/CTE/W/84 1 July 1998 Trade and Environment in Relation to Forest Products and 
Services:  an Overview of the Intergovernmental Panel on 
Forests and the Intergovernmental Forum on Forests deliberations – Communication from the Secretariat of the 
IFF 
WT/CTE/W/48 14 May 1997 Results of the Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Panel on Forests – 
Note by the Secretariat  
8. The International Tropical Timber Organization 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/169 17 October 2000 The International Tropical Timber Agreement – 
Communication from the Secretariat of the ITTO  
WT/CTE/W/120 29 June 1999 Background Note on the International Tropical Timber 
Organization – Communication from the Secretariat of the 
ITTO  
WT/CTE/W/89 20 July 1998 Recent Trade-Related Developm ents in the International 
Tropical Timber Agreement – Communication from the 
Secretariat of the ITTO  
 TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 18  
 
  9. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 
 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/142 19 June 2000 Trade-Related Developments in the Montreal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer – Communication 
from the Secretariat of the Vienna Convention and the 
Montreal Protocol, UNEP  
WT/CTE/W/130 and 
Corr.1 9 February 2000 Recen t Developments in MEAs (M ontreal Protocol and the 
Basel Convention) – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/115 25 June 1999 Communication from the Secretariat of the Vienna Convention 
and the Montreal Protocol, UNEP 
WT/CTE/W/104 28 Janua ry 1999 Recent Developments in the Montreal Protocol – Note by the 
Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/68 14 November 1997 The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone 
Layer:  Recent Developments – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/60 8 September 1997 Nature and Extent of Projects Supported by the Multilateral 
Fund – Communication from the Secretariat of the 
Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal 
Protocol  
WT/CTE/W/57 28 August 1997 The Montreal Protocol and Trade Measures – Communication 
from the Secretariat of the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol   
WT/CTE/W/44 20 March 1997 Recent Developm ents in the Conven tion on Biological 
Diversity and the Montreal Protocol – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/19 23 January 1996 Recen t Developments at the Sevent h Meeting of the Parties to 
the Montreal Protocol – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/12 10 October 1995 Recent Developments  in the Montreal Protocol and the Basel 
Convention – Note by the Secretariat  
 
10. The Rotterdam Convention on the Prio r Informed Consent Procedure for Certain 
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade and the Stockholm 
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/193 19 June 2001 R ecent Developments in MEAs – Stockholm Convention on 
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/166 16 October 2000 Draft Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Convention and 
the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent 
(PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade – Communication from 
UNEP Chemicals  
WT/CTE/W/151 29 June 2000 Recent Devel opments in MEAs (CITES and POPs 
Convention) – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/128 29 November 1999 Recent Developm ents in MEAs (PIC and POPs Conventions) 
– Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/112 10 May 1999 Draft International Legally Binding Instrument for  TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
 Page 19 
 
 
  Symbol Date Issued Topic 
Implementing International Action on Certain Persistent 
Organic Pollutants (POPs) – Recent Developments – Note by 
the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/91 20 July 1998 Background Paper on the Draft PIC Convention and the 
Ongoing Negotiations for a Global POPs Treaty – 
Communication from the Secretariat of UNEP Chemicals on 
PIC and POPs Conventions  
WT/CTE/W/86 8 July 1998 Recent Developmen ts in the Basel Convention, the PIC 
Convention, and the Convention on Biological Diversity – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/59 3 September 1997 The Proposed Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Persistent 
Organic Pollutants (POPs) Conventions – Communication 
from UNEP Chemicals Secretariat   
 
11. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/62 16 September 1997 The 1994 Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part 
XI of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – 
Communication from the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and 
the Law of the Sea  
 
12. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
Symbol Date Issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/201 2 October 2001 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCCC) – Recent developments – Note by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/174 23 October 2000 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – 
Communication from the Secretariat of the UNFCCC  
WT/CTE/W/153 29 June 2000 Developments in the United Nations Framework Convention 
on Climate Change – Communication from the Secretariat of 
the UNFCCC  
WT/CTE/W/123 8 July 1999 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCCC)  – Communication from the Secretariat of the 
UNFCCC  
WT/CTE/W/74 3 March 1998 Recent Developm ents in the United Nations Framework 
Convention on Climate Change:  The Kyoto Protocol – Note 
by the Secretariat  
WT/CTE/W/61 16 September 1997 The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate 
Change – Communication from the Secretariat of the 
UNFCCC  
 TN/TE/S/2/Rev.2 
Page 20  
 
  13. Others 
Symbol Date issued Topic 
WT/CTE/W/88 20 July 1998 The Protocol to the 1979 UN/ECE Convention on 
Long-Range Transboundary Air on Pollution Persistent Organic Pollutants – Communication from the 
Secretariat of the UN/ECE Convention on Long-Range 
Transboundary Air Pollution  
WT/CTE/W/58 2 September 1997 Nature and Extent of GEF Projects in Assisting in the 
Implementation of MEAs – Communication from the 
Secretariat of the GEF  
WT/CTE/W/15 and Corr.1 1 December 1995 Recent De velopments in the FAO Code of Conduct for 
Responsible Fisheries – Note by the Secretariat  
 
__________