New Initiatives Launched to Intensify WTO
Work on Trade and the Environment
Two proponent groups launched new initiatives to intensify
discussions at the WTO on trade and the environment on 17 November, the second day
of the WTO’s Trade and Environment Week. The initiatives establish structured
discussions on trade and environmental sustainability and an informal dialogue
on plastics pollution.
Fifty
members said they would organize structured discussions for interested WTO
members to advance work on trade and environmental sustainability. This would
include by promoting transparency and information sharing, identifying areas
for future work within the WTO, supporting technical assistance and capacity
building needs, particularly for least-developed countries, and working on
"deliverables" of environmental sustainability in the various areas
of the WTO. The group intends to complement the existing work of the Committee
on Trade and Environment and other relevant WTO committees and bodies. A first
meeting will be scheduled in early 2021 with participation open to all WTO
members.
The
proponents' Communication on Trade and Environmental Sustainability is here. The members that have sponsored this
communication are Australia; Canada; Chad; Chile; Costa Rica; the European
Union; Gambia; Fiji; Iceland; Japan; Korea; Liechtenstein; Maldives; Mexico;
Moldova; Montenegro; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Senegal; the
Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Switzerland;
and the United Kingdom.
The
structured discussions seek to propel new ideas and will be open to third
parties and experts, Ambassador Gloria Abraham Peralta of Costa Rica said at
the online launch. By the 12th Ministerial Conference, proponents aim to bring
in more members and further develop the work programme
of the structured discussions, said Ambassador Stephen de Boer of Canada.
WTO
Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff, speaking at the online event, said the
group's work programme could contribute to
eliminating tariff and non-tariff barriers in environmental goods and services,
further work on a declaration made at the 11th Ministerial Conference on
reforming inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and promoting a global circular
economy by facilitating trade along supply chains. It could also contribute to
strengthening links between trade and climate action, including by
collaborating on schemes addressing the carbon content of trade products, and
helping the smallest and poorest countries secure green financing.
On
plastics pollution and environmentally sustainable plastics trade, seven
members have launched an open-ended informal dialogue to which all WTO members
are invited to participate. The dialogue is borne out of the recognition of the
need for coordinated action to address the rising environmental, health and
economic cost of plastics pollution and the importance of the trade dimension
as a solution.
Proponents
aim to circulate their communication soon. The seven members that have
sponsored the communication so far are Australia, Barbados, Canada, China,
Fiji, Jamaica and Morocco.
Ambassador
Xiangchen Zhang of China said at the online event
that possible subjects for discussion include improving transparency,
monitoring trade trends, promoting best practices, strengthening policy
coherence, identifying the scope for collective approaches, assessing capacity
and technical assistance needs, and cooperating with other international processes
and efforts. Ambassador Nazhat Shameem
Khan of Fiji said they hope this informal dialogue will encourage discussion
and exploratory work on how the WTO can contribute to efforts to reduce
plastics pollution and transition to a circular, more environmentally
sustainable plastics trade.
DDG
Wolff said a revived Environmental Goods Agreement negotiation could contribute
to better plastics trade by reducing barriers to substitutes and waste
management equipment. It would be useful, he added, to define principles for
effective and coherent trade measures that tackle plastics pollution and are
compatible with WTO rules, to set targets for reducing trade in non-sustainable
plastics, to establish a monitoring mechanism to track relevant trade measures,
and to enhance support for capacity building through Aid for Trade and the
Enhanced Integrated Framework.