Members of the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD) met to review progress on a package of documents that will be presented at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14). Ana Lizano of Costa Rica, a co-convenor of TESSD, stated: "We should all be very proud of what we have achieved, as reflected in the documents for MC14 that we will be discussing today. MC14 is an important opportunity to showcase the impact of our work over the past five years."
During the meeting, co-convenors presented a draft overarching document that summarizes five years of TESSD’s work. This document highlights how trade and trade policy can contribute to climate and environmental goals. It was first discussed as a possible outcome for MC14 during a plenary meeting in December 2024. The document incorporates technical input from four working groups and aims to reflect collective efforts by all TESSD co-sponsors and stakeholders.
Delegations supported the document’s overall direction but suggested further revisions to streamline content, clarify technical insights, improve readability, and enhance visuals. The final version is expected by the end-of-January plenary session so it can be included in the full MC14 package.
The group also reviewed revised outcome documents from four working groups:
- Compilation and Mapping of Trade-related Climate Policies (facilitated by Switzerland)
- Trade Aspects and Related Member Practices on Circular Economy (facilitated by Japan and Türkiye)
- Compilation of Design Elements in Subsidies (facilitated by Israel and the Republic of Korea)
- Analytical Summary of Environmental Goods and Services Discussions (facilitated by the United Kingdom and the Philippines)
Participants noted improvements in these documents and provided additional suggestions for clarity, consistency, conciseness, and practical implementation. Members emphasized continued dialogue and cooperation among participants while ensuring materials are accessible.
Looking ahead, co-convenors outlined plans for surveys and consultations with co-sponsors to set future priorities after MC14. They observed that TESSD has identified specific ways trade can support environmental sustainability, generating substantive technical knowledge for ongoing work.
Nadine Nickner of Canada concluded: "We look forward to continuing our strong collaboration to advance trade and environmental sustainability."
TESSD operates under its 2021 Ministerial Statement as an initiative open to all WTO members. It aims to complement existing work within the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment by promoting discussion at the intersection of trade policy and environmental sustainability. Currently, TESSD is co-sponsored by 79 members representing various regions and levels of development.
Presentations and related documents from recent meetings are available online.