WTO and Ethical Trade
The WTO's Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) was established in 1994. Its mandate is to:
"to make appropriate recommendations on whether any modifications of the provisions of the multilateral trading system are required ... ".
It has a has ten item work programme including:
Item 3 - environmental charges, taxes and labels
Item 6 - environmental benefits of removing trade restrictions and distortions
In general it examines the way in which trade liberalisation, economic development and environmental protection are complementary.
While much of the heat of the debate in the CTE has been on eco-labels, it has also been involved in looking at ways in which improving access to Northern markets may lead to more environmentally friendly production. It has therefore been making an important contribution to the liberalisation debate.
Debates in CTE are summarised in the WTO's press release, Trade and the Environment, which is found at....