. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/CTE/10
29 October 2003
(03-5742)
Committee on Trade and Environment
REPORT (2003) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT
1. The Committee on Trade and Environment Regular (CTE) held four meetings in 2003 under
the chairmanship of Ambassador Peter Br ňo (Slovak Republic).1
2. The work of the CTE was organized in accordance with the mandate contained in
paragraph 32 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration (DMD).2  Particular attention was given to market
access issues (paragraph  32(i))3, the relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement (paragraph  32(ii)),
and labelling requirements for environmental purposes (paragraph  32(iii)).  The CTE also continued
its analysis of the other items of its work programme.  Pursuant to paragraph 33, Members discussed
technical assistance, capacity building and environmental reviews.  Members also discussed the CTE'sreport to the Fifth Ministerial Conference in Cancún on the work undertaken since Doha under both
paragraphs 32 and 33.
4  Finally, under paragraph 51, Members undertook to identify and debate the
developmental and environmental aspects of the negotiations, in order to help achieve the objective of
having sustainable development appropriately reflected.
3. At the meeting of 14 February 2003 , under paragraph 32(i), Members discussed the issues of
forestry and fisheries based on a contribution from Japan (WT/CTE/W/222).  The UNCTAD and the
OECD informed the Committee of relevant activities.  Discussion also took place on paragraph 32(ii)
on the basis of a submission presented by the European Communities (WT/CTE/W/223).  On
paragraph 32(iii), Japan referred Members to its submission to the TBT Committee on labelling
(G/TBT/W/176).  Under paragraph 33, Canada introduced its Initial Environmental Assessment of the
WTO Trade Negotiations (WT/CTE/W/221) and the European Communities informed Members of a
DG Trade Seminar on Sustainability Impact Assessments (WT/CTE/W/224).  Under paragraph 51,presentations were made by the Secretariat on the negotiations in the areas of agriculture
(WT/CTE/GEN/8) and market access for non-agricultu ral products (WT/CTE/GEN/9).  Finally, it was
decided that the Secretariat would prepare a first draft of the factual elements of the Report to the
5
th Ministerial Session in Cancún on paragraphs 32 and 33.
4. At the meeting of 29 April 2003 , Japan presented a paper on fisheries subsidies under
paragraph 32(i) (WT/CTE/W/226).  Members also discussed the issue of labelling for environmental
purposes (paragraph 32(iii)) on the basis of a contribution from the European Communities
(WT/CTE/W/225).  Canada drew the CTE's attention to its communication on labelling submitted to
the TBT Committee in May 2002 (G/TBT/W/174/Rev.1, subsequently circulated as
WT/CTE/W/229).  Discussions were also held on paragraph 33, following the presentation by the
United States of its submission on technical assistance and environmental reviews (WT/CTE/W/227).
                                                     
1 The reports of the meetings are contained in documents WT/CTE/M/32-35.
2 Hereafter paragraph numbers refer to those of the Doha Ministerial Declaration.
3 The full text of paragraph 32(i) reads:  "the effect of environmental measures on market access,
especially in relation to developing countries, in particular the least-developed among them, and those situationsin which the elimination or reduction of trade restrictio ns and distortions would benefit trade, the environment
and development".
4 WT/CTE/8.WT/CTE/10
Page 2
The UNCTAD and UNEP informed the CTE of their technical assistance activities and upcoming
meetings (WT/CTE/GEN/12 and WT/CTE/GEN/13).  Under paragraph 51, discussions continued on
the basis of presentations by the Secretariat on the negotiations in the rules (WT/CTE/GEN/10) and
services areas (WT/CTE/GEN/11).  It was decided that the Secretariat would prepare a brief and
factual summary on this paragraph as part of its report to the General Council.  Finally, Membersdiscussed the first draft of the CTE Report to Cancún on paragraphs 32 and 33.
5. At the meeting of 7 July 2003 , under paragraph 32, Members discussed Canada's proposal for
a recommendation for the Cancún Ministerial Conference (Job(03)/105).  Under paragraph 32(iii) on
labelling for environmental purposes, Members held discussions on a proposed recommendation by
the European Communities for the Cancún Ministerial Conference (Job(03)/130).  Members adopted
the report of the CTE to the Fifth Ministerial Conference in Cancún on paragraphs 32 and 33
(WT/CTE/8).  The CTE also reported to the General Council ahead of Cancún (WT/CTE/9).
6. At the meeting of 28 October 2003 , under paragraph 32(i), discussions were held on the issue
of forestry, following a submission by Japan on its bilateral cooperation with Indonesia in combating
illegal logging (WT/CTE/W/233).  The UNCTAD inform ed the CTE of its activities on the effects of
environmental measures on market access.  Under paragraph 33, the European Communities
presented a submission on trade-related technical assistance and capacity building in the field of tradeand environment (WT/CTE/W/231).  Also under this paragraph, the Secretariat gave an oral report on
its technical assistance activities in 2003.
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