WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/CTE/4
14 October 1999
(99-4414)
REPORT (1999) OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT
1. The Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) continued to analyze the work programme
set out in the Marrakesh Ministerial Decision on Trade and Environment following the cluster
approach, under the themes of market access and the linkages between the multilateral environment
and trade agendas.  Discussions in the CTE took place under the Chairmanship of
Ambassador Chak Mun See (Singapore), followed by the Chairmanship of Ambassador István Major
(Hungary).
2. The CTE held three meetings in 1999 (see attached Annex).  The 18-19 February meeting
addressed those items of the work programme relevant to the theme of market access, items 2, 3, 4
and 6.  The discussions focused primarily on the sectors of agriculture and fisheries, while there were
also discussions on energy, forestry, non-ferrous metals, textiles and clothing, leather and
environmental services. The sectoral discussions and the working papers submitted by Membershighlighted areas where the removal of trade restrictions and distortions can be both environmentally
and economically beneficial.
3. The focus of the meeting held on 29-30 June was on those items related to the multilateral
environment and trade agendas, including items 1, 5, 7 and 8.  On 29 June, the CTE held an
Information Session with five Secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)relevant to the work of the CTE in order to inform Members on the trade-related developments in
these agreements. Presentations and papers were provided by the Convention on the International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Fl ora;  the Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer;  the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;  the
Intergovernmental Forum on Forests;  and the In ternational Tropical Timber Organization.  This
meeting illustrated how trade-related measures function in MEAs and helped to deepen the
understanding of the MEA relationship to the multilateral trading system.  The 12-13 October meetingfocused on Items 9 and 10, reviewed both thematic clusters, and adopted this report of the CTE to the
General Council.
4. The CTE extended observer status to the following international intergovernmental
organizations in 1999:  the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas;  the
Islamic Development Bank;  the South Pacific Forum;  the Southeast Asian Fisheries DevelopmentCentre;  and the United Nations Fram ework Convention on Climate Change.
5. In 1999, the WTO Environmental Database (EDB) was updated by the Secretariat in
document WT/CTE/W/118.  The EDB was established in 1998 in fulfilment of the recommendation
in the 1996 Report of the CTE to the Singapore Ministerial Conference (WT/CTE/1) to compile and
update annually all environment-related notifications to the WTO.
6. A High-Level Symposium on Trade and Environment was held on 15-16 March 1999.
Participation included senior level representa tives from trade, environment, and development
ministries as well as other government agencies of WTO Members which deal with matters related to
sustainable development.  Participation included representation from approximately 130 environment,
development, consumer and industry NGOs as well as academia, from developed and developingcountries.  The Symposium included presentations by the Director-General of the WTO, the
Executive Secretary of UNEP, and representatives  from the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the
World Bank and UNCTAD.  This meeting provided a forum for a useful exchange of views and
information between the trade and environment communities.  Funding from donor governmentsWT/CTE/4
Page 2
provided for the participation of representatives from least-developed Member countries and
developing country NGOs.
7. In continuation of last year's initiative, the Secretariat organized regional seminars on trade
and environment for government officials from developing and least-developed countries in
Zimbabwe and Djibouti in 1999.  The objective of these seminars was to raise awareness on thelinkages between trade, environment and sustai nable development and to enhance the dialogue
between policymakers from Ministries of both trade and environment in WTO Member Governments.
8. Pending the future work programme of the WTO, the CTE agreed to hold three meetings in
2000 and to continue to deepen the analysis of all items on the work programme based on the
thematic clusters with the objective of fulfilling the mandate of the CTE.WT/CTE/4
Page 3
ANNEX
Work Programme and Schedule of Meetings for 1999
1. The 1998 Report of the Committee on Trade and Environment (WT/CTE/3) sets out that the
CTE will advance the analysis of all the items on its work programme based on the "cluster approach"
under the themes of market access and the linkages between the multilateral environment and trade
agendas.  The contribution of Members, including where possible their national experience, on theitems of the work programme should enrich these discussions and move forward the process of
fulfilling the tasks mandated in the terms of reference of the CTE.  Time will be allotted for Members,
if they so wish, to return to Items discussed at the previous meeting.
2. The CTE meeting of 18-19 February will address those Items relevant to the theme of market
access, including:
Item 2: the relationship between environmental policies relevant to trade and environmental
measures with significant trade effects and the provisions of the multilateral trading
system;
Item 3: the relationship between the provisions of the multilateral trading system and:
(a) charges and taxes for environmental purposes;(b) requirements for environmental purp oses relating to products, including
standards and technical regulations, packaging, labelling and recycling;
Item 4: the provisions of the multilateral trading system with respect to the transparency of
trade measures used for environmental purposes and environmental measures and
requirements which have significant trade effects;  and
Item 6: the effect of environmental measures on market access, especially in relation to
developing countries, in particular to the least developed among them, and
environmental benefits of removing trade restrictions and distortions.
3. At a meeting on 29-30 June the CTE will discuss the Items related to the linkages between the
multilateral environment and trade agendas, including:
Information session with selected Secretariats of Multilateral Environmental Agreements;
Item 1: the relationship between the provisions of the multilateral trading system and trade
measures for environmental purposes, including those pursuant to multilateral
environmental agreements;
Item 5: the relationship between the dispute settlement mechanisms in the multilateral trading
system and those found in multilateral environmental agreements;
Item 7: the issue of exports of domestically prohibited goods;  and
Item 8: the relevant provisions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights.
4. On 12-13 October, the CTE's discussions will include:
Items under the market access cluster (Items 2, 3, 4 and 6);
Items under the linkages between the multilateral environment and trade agendas cluster (Items 1, 5, 7
and 8);
Item 9: the work programme envisaged in the Decision on Trade in Services and the
Environment;
Item 10: input to the relevant bodies in respect of appropriate arrangements for relations with
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations referred to in Article V of the
WTO;  and
adoption of the 1999 Report of the CTE
__________