Trade and Environment

The WTO Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) was created by the WTO General Council on January 31, 1995, pursuant to the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Trade and Environment.

Since then, the CTE has discussed many important issues, with a focus on those identified in the Doha Declaration. These issues include:

• Market access associated with environmental measures [sub-paragraph 32(i)];
• Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the environment [sub-paragraph 32(ii)]; labeling for environmental purposes [sub-paragraph 32(iii)];
• Capacity-building and environmental reviews (paragraph 33); and discussion of the environmental aspects of the Doha negotiations (paragraph 51).

These issues identified in the Doha Declaration are separate from those that are subject to specific negotiating mandates are being taken up by the Committee on Trade and Environment Special Session (CTESS). With respect to the Doha round trade and environment agenda that does not specifically involve negotiations, the United States plays an active role, particularly through emphasizing the importance of capacity-building.

This work includes discussions in the CTE Regular Session with respect to the environmental implications of all areas under negotiation in the Doha round.

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