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A Southern Agenda on Trade and Environment

This article explores the origins of the trade and environment debate, the current challenges and fears faced by developed and developing countries, and the need for a positive agenda that addresses the broader negotiating interests of Eastern and Southern Africa. It emphasizes the importance of considering national and regional interests and thinking beyond the confines of the WTO.

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A Southern Agenda on Trade and Environment

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  1. A Southern Agenda on Trade and Environment Mark Halle IISD Stellenbosch, 10 June 2004

  2. Origins of the T & E Debate • Havana 1947 and the ITO • GATT • Tuna-Dolphin

  3. The Good News CTE The Bad News Fear of challenge MEAs Ecolabelling Aversion to Precaution Fear of PPMs Uruguay Round, WTO and the First Phase

  4. Committee on Trade and Environment • Little progress: Singapore, Geneva, Seattle • Fish subsidies ready to go in Seattle • Doha: the breakthrough, or was it?

  5. Developed Countries Consumer demand Trade advantage Green protection? Developing Countries Rejection (with exceptions – MEAs) Fear of complication, overload Fear of green protection Negative agenda Developed and Developing Country Views

  6. T&E Debate in WTO:Not Just CTE • Crystallization • Jurisprudence • Asbestos • Shrimp-Turtle • Moving beyond GATT-only Emerging rejection of environmental straight-jacket Little positive activity from developing countries

  7. Southern Agenda Phase I • Desk research • Geneva consultation • Presentation at WTO Public Symposium

  8. Doha: The Penny Drops • South in general poorly prepared • Para. 31: negotiation • Para. 32: clarification • Para. 33: technical assistance • Environment everywhere: TRIPS, Rules, Services, Agriculture, etc.

  9. The Need for a Positive Agenda • Environment here to stay • Rising demand to place WTO in context • Need to address a horizontal agenda

  10. Southern Agenda Phase II • Geneva consultations • Regional consultations • West Africa (July 03) • South America (October 03) • South/Southeast Asia (January 04) • Northeast Asia • Central America? • Caribbean?

  11. SA II Outputs • Vision Book • Resource Book • Archive

  12. Expectations of the Meeting • Think “out of the box” and outside today’s issues • Focus on Eastern and Southern Africa’s national and regional interests • Focus on the broad negotiating agenda • Think beyond WTO – eg. Cotonou • Identify areas of common N-S interest

  13. Current Trends • Self-contained WTO a thing of the past • Developing countries emerging • Development tests strengthening • One size fits all fading • But: too easy to blame the trading system • If WTO must be more inclusive, so must its members

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