An informal session on the green services economy and sustainable development was held by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Council for Trade in Services on December 11, 2025. The WTO Secretariat opened with a presentation covering recent developments in environmental services, trade opportunities, and challenges related to definitions and data. Experts from organizations such as the World Bank, UNCTAD, CARICOM, and IRENA shared their experiences.
Members from both developing and developed countries discussed their national efforts to grow the green services economy and emphasized the role of trade. They identified opportunities for growth and employment but also pointed out challenges including skill shortages, financing constraints, regulatory fragmentation, technical assistance needs, and difficulties in measurement and classification.
During a subsequent Council meeting, members called for more comprehensive discussions on these issues. There was also a focus on how least-developed country (LDC) service suppliers interact with consumers and businesses abroad. Members reported ongoing efforts to collect information about LDC participation in services trade, particularly in economies that have notified preferences under the LDC waiver. The LDC Group requested more time to gather data before a review at the next Council meeting scheduled for February 2026.
Bangladesh, India, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, and Pakistan jointly proposed measures to strengthen implementation of Article VII on recognition in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Their suggestions included better notification practices among members, creating a database of recognition arrangements, voluntary guidelines development, and targeted technical assistance for mutual recognition agreements. Several members supported increased transparency but some sought clarification or questioned the need for changes to GATS Article VII.
Members also exchanged views on electronic commerce policy work programmes with emphasis on development issues. Opinions differed regarding the moratorium on customs duties applied to electronic transmissions.
The WTO Secretariat updated members about trade in services statistics. It announced that WTO economists had produced experimental estimates of services trade measured by volume rather than just value terms for the first time this year.
Other concerns raised included cybersecurity measures implemented by China and Viet Nam; certain US policies; and India's regulations affecting mobile applications. The Council adopted its annual report (S/C/68).
On December 10th, the Committee on Trade in Financial Services addressed reducing costs of cross-border remittance services—a key topic ahead of the upcoming 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). Morocco's draft ministerial declaration proposes addressing barriers contributing to high transfer costs within the Committee’s mandate while supporting multilateral guiding principles around transparency, interoperability, competition in remittance services, and technical assistance programs for developing economies' cross-border payments capacities.
Many members backed using Morocco’s draft as a basis for MC14 negotiations given remittances’ importance to economic growth in developing countries; others suggested further discussion is needed. The proposal will be considered again at the General Council meeting set for December 16-17.
The Committee also followed up on previous thematic sessions concerning digital payment systems and remittance services held earlier this year.
The Committee on Specific Commitments continued its work regarding classification of environmental services based on new submissions from the United Kingdom as well as Switzerland and New Zealand. The UK updated its summary comparing various environmental service classifications while Switzerland and New Zealand reviewed progress since 1998 regarding updates to Central Product Classification (CPC), proposing consideration of Classification of Environmental Purposes (CEP) as an alternative approach.
Chair Sirapat Vajraphai welcomed ongoing efforts to advance discussions at future meetings.