WTO members met to discuss ways to address the impact of diverse carbon-emission measures on trade. The event, held under the Committee on Trade and Environment, brought together representatives from various countries to examine how differing climate policies intersect with global commerce.
Ambassador Erwin Bollinger of Switzerland, who chairs the Committee, opened the meeting by noting that ongoing discussions since 2024 led to this gathering. "Members identified three areas around which deeper discussion was needed: transparency approaches; the development dimension; and interoperability and coherence," he said.
He also stated that these sessions allowed members to "engage in technical discussions, build further understanding, and foster peer learning . particularly in instances where members have not yet been able to reach convergence." He clarified that the goal was not to produce a specific outcome or endorse any particular policy.
The breakout group discussions were moderated by Ambassador Sofía Boza Martínez of Chile, Ambassador Clare Kelly of New Zealand, and Ambassador Manuel Antonio Teehankee of the Philippines, along with Ambassador Bollinger.
Participants focused on three main topics. On transparency approaches, they discussed how to make information about emissions-related measures more accessible. This included improving openness around emissions measurement methods and exploring alternative environmental strategies that could affect trade less.
On the development dimension, attention turned to challenges faced by developing and least-developed WTO members when implementing new rules related to emissions. Participants also considered possible flexibilities that could help these countries meet requirements.
For interoperability and coherence, members looked at ways to better align different emission-reduction measures internationally. The aim was to reduce regulatory differences and ease compliance burdens for businesses operating across borders.
At the end of the retreat, Ambassador Bollinger thanked participants for their engagement. He announced plans to present a summary of key points at the next Committee meeting scheduled for November 4-5. There is interest among members in holding more interactive sessions, with another event tentatively planned for December 5, 2025.