Trade
and Environment
In
the World Trade Organisation (WTO) we have a multilateral rules-based
system which gives all countries the opportunity to participate
in the global economy and seek redress on a fair and equal basis,
building on the principles of non-discrimination, transparency
and consensus. International agreements governing the environment
(Multilateral Environmental Agreements or MEAs) build on the
same principles and also on the precautionary principle and
the polluter pays principle. The Government is committed both
to protecting the environment and to maintaining an open, non-discriminatory
and equitable multilateral trading system. Provided that the
right frameworks are in place they should both be achievable.
Both are essential to the overarching objective of sustainable
development.
We
must be sure that WTO rules can be applied without sacrificing
environmental concerns; and that international work on environmental
protection can be pursued without sacrificing trade principles
and WTO rights. The Government's work on trade and the environment
is governed by some clear principles, for example:
a)
we must at all cost avoid forging new protectionist tools: the
principles of non-discrimination, national treatment and transparency
must be fully respected;
b)
wherever possible, environmental regulation must be multilaterally
based; and command the widest support;
c)
trade rules must not be used to block legitimate environmental
regulation and we must be guided at all times by the principle
sustainable development;
d)
where action for the environment is required, it should be analytically
based, taking into account scientific evidence, assessing costs
and benefits while acknowledging that this will not always provide
full certainty. Risks need to be assessed fully, including the
risks if action is not taken.
The
UK takes part in the WTO
Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE),
which examines the interface between trade and environment policies
and their impacts on each other. The European Commission represents
the European Union in meetings of the CTE. For more information
on EU trade and environment policy, see the EU
website.
At
the WTO 5th Ministerial in Doha, which took place
in November 2001, environment was included onto the agenda for
the first time. This extremely important step was championed
by the EU, and must not be underestimated. In the Doha Declaration,
WTO members agreed to negotiations on the relationship between
WTO members and specific trade obligations set out in Multilateral
Environmental Agreements (MEAs); procedures for regular information
exchanges between MEA Secretariats and the relevant WTO committee
and the reduction, or as appropriate elimination, of the tariff
and non-tariff barriers to environmental goods and services.
Further
to this, WTO members instructed the CTE to pursue the work on
it’s agenda, paying particular attention to the effect of environmental
measures on market access, especially in relation to developing
countries, the relevant provisions of the Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of International Property Rights and labelling
for environmental purposes. Work on these issues is to include
the identification of the need to clarify any relevant WTO rules.
The CTE is to report to the fifth Ministerial and make recommendations,
where appropriate, with respect to future action. Information
on the progress of negotiations, including the position papers
submitted by WTO Members such as the EU, can be found on the
WTO website at the CTE link above.
The
UK is also active in the OECD through the Joint
Working Party on Trade and Environment
and support UNCTAD
in its continuing work on trade and environment.
A
number of Government Departments work together to develop trade
and environment policy, including the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
the Department
for International Development and the
Foreign
and Commonwealth Office
Contact:
Armelle Diamond
Tel: 020 7215 2602
Fax: 020 7215 2867
E-mail: armelle.diamond@dti.gov.uk
Last
updated 16 April 2003
