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Workshop on Environmental Goods and Services for Developing Country Members 18 February 2010

Workshop on Environmental Goods and Services for Developing Country Members 18 February 2010. Marie Isabelle Pellan Counsellor, Trade and Environment Division.

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Workshop on Environmental Goods and Services for Developing Country Members 18 February 2010

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  1. Workshop on Environmental Goods and Services for Developing Country Members18 February 2010 Marie Isabelle Pellan Counsellor, Trade and Environment Division

  2. “31. With a view to enhancing the mutual supportiveness of trade and environment, we agree to negotiations, without prejudging their outcome, on: (iii) the reduction or, as appropriate, elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to environmental goods and services. “a unique mandate” with both challenges and opportunities... - improving access to green goods and technologies - delivering on the trade, environment and development dimensions of the mandate - overlap with other areas of the DDA

  3. GENERAL COUNCIL Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) Special Session of the Committee on Agriculture CTE Special Session Negotiating Group on Market Access TRIPS Special Session Negotiating Group on Rules Special Session of the Council for Trade in Services Special Session of the Dispute Settlement Body Para 31(iii)

  4. Discussions in CTESS 2002-2005: Individual lists tabled by 9 Members April 2007: 153-items list by proponents (“potential convergence set”) July 08: Work Programme Oct. 09: Revised Work Programme (new timelines) “technical discussions” 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2005-2007: proposals on alternative approaches (India, Argentina, Brazil) Call for submissions on identification of EGs of interest and other issues under mandate

  5. Japan • Chinese Taipei • European Union • Korea • New Zealand • Canada • United States • Switzerland • Norway Group of Friends (“potential convergence set”): Other Members that have contributed with submissions: Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, India,Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia

  6. Responding to the mandate under 31(iii)... Identifying goods (product coverage) Determining treatment (modalities)

  7. Identifying goods/product coverage: Some challenges • No agreed definition or criteria (work in OECD, APEC – “defining by doing”) • Coverage: industrial and agricultural goods? • Majority of goods proposed have “multiple uses” (not just environmental) • Technical issues relating to tariff classification (ability to distinguish at border; use of ex-outs) • Constant evolution of the technology (Review mechanism needed? “one off” exercise?)

  8. Determining treatment/modalities In the context of a list... (Friends) In the context of requests and offers... (Brazil) In the context of the integrated approach... (Argentina) Flexibilities for DgC (S&D)

  9. List (Friends) Tariff cuts “over and above” what will be agreed in NAMA • S&D treatment could take the form of: • Lower rates of liberalization • Different timeframe for the elimination of tariffs (i.e.longer implementation periods) • Additional flexibilities (e.g. product exemptions)

  10. Requests and offers (Brazil) • Interested Members would draw their own individual list of goods to be liberalized on an MFN basis • Process of bilateral negotiations • Avoids “one size fits all” (not a unique set of products); more in line with Members’ individual goals and level of development

  11. Integrated Approach (Argentina) 1- Agree multilaterally on categories of environmental activities to combat climate change; 2- In accordance with categories, identifyclimate change mitigation and adaptation goods that may be used in national projects; 3- Proceed to reduce/eliminate tariff and NTBs with respect to goods required in the context of projects under the Clean Development Mechanism (time bound)

  12. Addressing other issues under the mandate Non-tariff barriers (NTBs) • Issue not discussed in detail (linked to product discussion); specific proposal by Brazil on standards for organically produced food • Some examples of NTBs in relation to EGs identified at workshop in Sept. 09: • Complications related to customs procedures, valuation of goods; Import prohibitions; Immigration procedures; Local content requirements; Lack of intellectual property rights protection. • Establish mechanism or special work program for dealing with NTBs relating to EGs?

  13. Addressing other issues under the mandate Transfer of technology / TA • Not specifically mentioned in mandate; for DgC integral part of S&D; • In CTESS: some information exchange on existing projects or activities to promote transfer of environmentally-sound technology; no specific/detailed proposal to date • Link to Working Group on Trade and Transfer of Technology established as part of Doha Work Programme

  14. Addressing other issues under the mandate Environmental Services Covered in the next presentation...

  15. State-of-Play under the Work Programme • Work Programme agreed in July 2008 and revised in October 2009 – remains the basis for future work in this area • Phase of Identification of EGs of interest (“universe”) - started in November; exercise to continue at February Meeting

  16. Examples of categories of goods mentioned • Renewable energy (wind; solar; geothermal); • Waste management (Solid and hazardous waste; waste water); • Air pollution control; • Environmental technologies for conservation, monitoring, analysis and assessment; • Energy efficient products; • Carbon capture and storage, gas flaring emissions reduction, efficient consumption of energy; • Biofuels; • Organic products.

  17. State-of-Play under the Work Programme • Submissions identifying EGs of interest: • Friends (Job(09)/132) • Argentina (TN/TE/W/74) • Japan (TN/TE/W/75 and add.1) • Saudi Arabia (Job(09)/169 and add.1) • Philippines (Job/TE/2) Some overlaps with respect to products...

  18. Next Steps • Compilation document to be developed to reflect Members’ proposals, including as regards the “universe” of goods identified so far (March stock-taking exercise) • Further discussions needed on cross-cutting and development-related issues, based on Members’ input • Timeframe / linkages with other areas of DDA negotiations (NAMA/Ag modalities)

  19. Workshop on Environmental Goods and Services for Developing Country Members18 February 2010 Marie Isabelle Pellan Counsellor, Trade and Environment Division

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