Trade
and Environment
The
Government is committed both to protecting the environment and
to maintaining an open, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral
trading system. For this reason, we must be sure that WTO rules
can be applied without sacrificing environmental concerns; and
that international work on environmental protection (for example,
via international agreements governing the environment such
as Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs)) can be pursued
without sacrificing trade principles and WTO rights.
The
Government's work on trade and 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
of sustainable development;
d)
where environmental action is required, it should be evidence
based while acknowledging that there will not always be full
certainty.. Risks will 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. 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 4th Ministerial in Doha, which took place
in November 2001, environment was included on the agenda for
the first time. This important step must not be underestimated.
It is the first time that the links between trade and environment
have been explicily recognised as part of a Round. In the Doha
Declaration, WTO members agreed to negotiations on the relationship
between WTO rules and specific trade obligations set out in
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.
WTO
members also instructed the CTE to pursue further work on the
environment 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 includes
the identification of the need to clarify any relevant WTO rules.
At
the WTO 5th Ministerial in Cancun, which took place
in September 2003, discussions on the environment agenda were
limited to labelling for environmental purposes and observership
status for MEA secretariats. Disappointingly, the Cancun Ministerial
did not reach agreement on this or any other aspect of the Round,
but we will continue to push for a successful outcome on all
aspects of the WTO environment agenda by the end of the trade
round.
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 we 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 4559
Fax: 020 7215 4589
E-mail: armelle.diamond@dti.gov.uk
Last
updated 18 November 2003
