meas-cd04b4978f82578f.pdf

This briefing, based on a joint WWF-CIEL paper, examines the relationship between Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). It argues that current WTO negotiations focus on areas requiring the least clarification and proposes several practical measures to enhance compatibility between trade and environmental governance, while urging non-trade policymakers to ensure that trade rules do not undermine the jurisdiction or objectives of MEAs.

• The author contends that the WTO is currently negotiating aspects of its relationship with MEAs that require the least clarification. Substantively, a WTO decision has already upheld unilateral trade measures provided there are "ongoing serious good faith efforts to reach a multilateral agreement". Procedurally, a 1996 Committee on Trade and Environment Report suggested that MEA parties should resolve disputes regarding trade measures applied between themselves using the "dispute settlement mechanisms available under the MEA."
• The document proposes several practical measures to increase mutual support between the WTO and MEAs, including: performing sustainability assessments of trade rules; implementing obligations from both MEAs and the WTO's TRIPS Agreement to transfer environmentally sound technologies to developing countries; increasing coordination between national trade and environment officials; and establishing observer status and information exchange between MEAs and the WTO dispute settlement body.
• Environmental policymakers are cautioned against adopting the WTO's concept of "specific trade obligations" without scrutiny, as this approach focuses on trade impacts. Because many MEAs are designed to restrict trade in items such as GMOs, chemicals, endangered species, and hazardous waste, the WTO's preference for "least trade restrictive" measures may conflict with MEA goals.
• The briefing suggests that a multilateral process involving government, inter-governmental, and non-governmental officials from trade, environment, and other sectors is necessary to ensure the coherent development of international economic and environmental law, as the relationship cannot be managed by a single institution.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). meas-cd04b4978f82578f.pdf. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/meas.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. meas-cd04b4978f82578f.pdf. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/meas.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=meas-cd04b4978f82578f.pdf |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/meas.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndmeascd04b4978f82578fpdf, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{meas-cd04b4978f82578f.pdf}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/meas.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }