Members discuss environmental sustainability package for MC14 and future work

Ana Lizano of Costa Rica, a co-convenor of TESSD, said that the main objectives of the meeting were to hear members' views on the overarching document for MC14, review the four working group outcome documents, and confirm the way forward for MC14. "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," she said.

TESSD overarching document

The co-convenors presented the draft TESSD overarching document, reminding participants that it had been first discussed as a possible MC14 outcome aimed at the general public at the December 2024 plenary meeting. The document highlights five years of TESSD work, illustrating how trade and trade policy can support climate and environmental objectives and drawing on the technical input generated by four working groups. Although presented as a "Co-Convenor document," it aims to reflect the collective efforts and contributions of all TESSD co-sponsors and stakeholders.

Members broadly supported the document as a demonstration of how trade can advance environmental goals. While generally satisfied with its content and structure, delegations provided suggestions on streamlining the text, improving readability and visuals, clarifying technical insights, and providing conclusions that would outline possible future work.

The document is intended to be of interest to WTO members and external audiences, including civil society and academia. Its aim is to enhance understanding of sustainability issues, raise visibility of TESSD achievements, support policy dialogue, and inform actionable outcomes. The document is due to be finalized by the end-of-January plenary meeting, allowing the complete MC14 package to be reviewed as a whole.

TESSD working group outcome documents

Members discussed the latest revisions of the outcome documents from the four working groups, namely: the Compilation and Mapping of Trade-related Climate Policies (TrCMS), with Switzerland as facilitator; the Trade Aspects and Related Member Practices on Circular Economy, facilitated by Japan and Türkiye; the Compilation of Design Elements in Subsidies, with Israel and the Republic of Korea as facilitators; and the Analytical Summary of Environmental Goods and Services (EGS) Discussions and Key Insights on EGS, facilitated by the United Kingdom and the Philippines.

Members generally welcomed the considerable improvements to the documents, and provided additional suggestions to be integrated into the final versions. They underscored the value of promoting practical and effective approaches, and maintaining clarity, consistency and conciseness in the documents. Participants also noted the need for continued dialogue, cooperation and exchange among members, while presenting the work in a forward-looking, factual and accessible manner that supports shared understanding and practical implementation.

Next steps

The co-convenors outlined the way forward, noting that a survey, and a series of consultations would be used to gather co-sponsors' views and  identify priority areas for future work. They observed that TESSD had helped identify concrete ways in which trade can support environmental sustainability, and that co-sponsors continued to recognize the value of this work. They emphasized that the initiative had generated substantive technical knowledge and that this moment provided an opportunity to set priorities and define work modalities for post-MC14.

Members welcomed the reflections on next steps and on TESSD's evolving role, emphasizing the importance of taking time to gather input, use resources efficiently, and engage in a thoughtful discussion on the future of the initiative. They recognized TESSD's contribution to enhancing mutual understanding, supporting evidence-based dialogue, and advancing sustainability discussions within and beyond the WTO, while considering the added value of these efforts.

Concluding the meetings, Nadine Nickner of Canada - another co-convenor of TESSD - remarked: "We look forward to continuing our strong collaboration to advance trade and environmental sustainability."

Presentations and documents related to TESSD meetings are available here.

More information

Guided by their 2021 Ministerial Statement, TESSD seeks to complement the work of the WTO Committee on Trade and Environment and advance discussions at the intersection of trade and environmental sustainability towards identifying concrete actions that members could take individually or collectively. The initiative, which is open to all WTO members, is currently co-sponsored by 79 members representing all regions and all levels of development.