Doha Ministerial Draft: Environment

Draft Declaration

26th September (1)

Reactions to the Draft

Draft Declaration

27th October

Comments

Alternative Formulations Proposed

27. We instruct the Committee on Trade and Environment to pursue work on all items on its agenda within its current terms of reference, and in particular:

· to address, in pursuance of the WTO's objective of sustainable development, those situations in which the elimination or reduction of trade restrictions and distortions would benefit trade, the environment and development;

· to deepen the understanding of the relationship between the multilateral trading system and multilateral environment agreements (MEAs).

The Committee on Trade and Environment shall report to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference on these issues.

28. We direct the Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade to expedite its work on labelling, bearing in mind that any measures in this field should not become disguised restrictions on trade, and to report to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference.

The EU was profoundly unhappy with the draft text on trade and environment that it considered unacceptable. It put forward two proposals which aimed at strengthening the text. The first suggestion was for Members to agree to negotiate trade and environment in the context of a new round. The second was for Members to agree to negotiate within the CTE.

The US and Canada did not support the EU. The US is not asking for negotiations in this area. However, in the Singapore Mini-Ministerial, the US softened its position and asked other Members also to take account of the political problems that the EU face domestically on this issue. (The US still does not want the EU to introduce the precautionary principle in the WTO through negotiations.)

Developing countries do not want negotiations on this issue. They still oppose expanding the environmental agenda of the WTO.

27. We instruct the Committee on Trade and Environment, in pursuing work on all items on its agenda within its current terms of reference, to give particular attention to:

(i) the effect of environmental measures on market access and those situations in which the elimination or reduction of trade restrictions and distortions would benefit trade, the environment and development;

(ii) the relationship between the multilateral trading system and multilateral environment agreements (MEAs);

(iii) the relevant provisions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights; and

(iv) labelling.

 

Work on these issues should include the identification of any need to clarify relevant WTO rules. The Committee shall report to the Fifth Session of the Ministerial Conference and make recommendations, where appropriate, with respect to future action, including the desirability of negotiations.

The paragraph on trade and environment should be deleted. The draft already contains two references to this issue (paras. 6 and 44) which are sufficient to cover the work of the CTE.

Delete the paragraph.