Participants launch MC14 environmental sustainability package, chart new phase of action

On 19 March, ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaound�, 79 WTO members participating in the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) unveiled a package of outcome documents showcasing progress achieved over the past five years and highlighting the group's substantive analytical work across several workstreams since MC13. Members also expressed their readiness to shift towards priority areas and deliver concrete actions after MC14.

Participants launch MC14 environmental sustainability package, chart new phase of action

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• Trade and environmental sustainability structured discussions
• Trade and environment
• 14th WTO Ministerial Conference

Ambassador Ronald Sabor�o of Costa Rica, a Co-Convenor of the TESSD discussions, said: "Today, we are releasing these documents publicly to inform policymakers and stakeholders. The documents reflect an impressive level of work and dedication from delegations and stakeholders. We hope they will serve as both a reference and a source of inspiration for advancing trade and environmental sustainability."

He said that the TESSD package includes a Co-Convenors' Ministerial Statement, an overarching report on TESSD's work, and outcome documents from the four TESSD Working Groups - trade-related climate measures, environmental goods and services, circular economy, and subsidies - with intensified efforts since MC13 on issues such as sustainable agriculture, industrial decarbonization, climate policies, and water management.

Ambassador Nadia Theodore of Canada, also a Co-Convenor of TESSD, noted that the initiative has become an important and inclusive platform since its launch in 2021, helping members address complex trade and environmental issues through trust-building and technical cooperation.

She introduced the Co-Convenors' Ministerial Statement (with Costa Rica) accompanying the MC14 package, which outlines progress since MC13 and underscores TESSD's role in advancing understanding of how trade policy can support environmental objectives, including by supporting discussions across various WTO committees.�

Looking ahead, Ambassador Theodore said: "TESSD will now enter a new phase, shifting from broad exploration toward more focused prioritization. Our objective is to concentrate efforts where TESSD can add the greatest value, deepening understanding, sharing experiences, and supporting members in navigating evolving trade-related environmental policies." She added that a survey will be conducted soon to help identify priorities for post-MC14 work.�

Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam congratulated the participating members on achieving a practical, action-oriented MC14 package and thanked them for advancing work on trade and the environment during challenging times. He said: "The consequences of not moving fast enough are already visible. Natural catastrophes in 2024 alone cost the world around USD 320 billion, more than half of which was uninsured. This is why practical and trade-enabled solutions matter."�

As the group shifts its focus toward more tangible results, he noted how the group's outcome documents already provide substantial technical groundwork� for potential further work, including regarding regional circular economy centres, the harmonization of carbon standards, reduced divergence in climate-related trade measures, and stronger support for small businesses in developing economies to integrate into green value chains and benefit from sustainable trade opportunities. DDG Paugam's full remarks are available here.�

Many members took the floor to welcome the launch of the TESSD MC14 outcome package and praised the progress achieved over the initiative's five-year journey. They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the positive momentum after MC14 as they enter a new phase focused on delivering more concrete and pragmatic results.�

Several members emphasized the need to further strengthen TESSD's connections with other WTO committees, while others highlighted the importance of engaging more developing members in this new phase to ensure outcomes that are development-oriented.�One member shared how the mapping of trade bottlenecks in offshore wind value chains undertaken by TESSD had helped inform their recent decision to adopt conditional tariff reductions on 33 industrial goods used in offshore wind manufacturing, reducing costs for manufacturers.

Representatives from international organizations and civil society commended the achievements of the TESSD initiative and expressed their willingness to continue sharing experiences and contributing to its discussions.�

Carolyn Deere Birkbeck, Director of the Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS), said: "TESSD has an important role to play in ongoing WTO reform discussions.� As members consider the future of the multilateral trading system, ensuring that sustainable development broadly - and environmental sustainability more specifically - are at the heart of that conversation will be essential."

Ieva Barsauskaite, Lead for Trade and the Green Transition at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), suggested that TESSD should continue serving as a bridge connecting different communities and expressed hope that TESSD's impact will "extend well beyond Geneva, shaping how trade and sustainability are understood and implemented in the years to come."

Concluding the event, Ambassador Sabor�o said that the TESSD MC14 package aims to "show the value of the deliberative function of the WTO as we continue our work here in Geneva." He added:��"It is more important than ever to demonstrate that our efforts are relevant to the real challenges in a world facing a growing number of crises. It is essential that trade continues to contribute to sustainable solutions."

More information�

The TESSD MC14 package will be forwarded to MC14 and included in the MC14 outcome documents.

The full TESSD package consists of:

• Co-Convenors' Ministerial Statement (WT/MIN(26)/22)
• TESSD: Insights and Outcomes from Five Years of Work - A Co-Convenors' Report (WT/MIN(26)/22/Add.1)
• Outcome documents from the four Working Groups:
• • Compilation and Mapping of Trade-related Climate Policies (WT/MIN(26)/22/Add.2)
  • Key Insights and Analytical Summary of Environmental Goods and Services (WT/MIN(26)/22/Add.3)
  • Trade Aspects and Related Member Practices on Circular Economy (WT/MIN(26)/22/Add.4)
  • Compilation of Design Elements in Subsidies (WT/MIN(26)/22/Add.5)

�More information on TESSD is available�here. Further information on MC14 is available�here.

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