Options to Incorporate Circular Economy Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements

The document examines how regional trade agreements (RTAs) can be used as vehicles to support the transition to a circular economy, which aims to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable resource use. It identifies that while some blocs, notably the European Union, have begun including such provisions, they remain 'largely embryonic'. The brief suggests that circularity can be integrated into RTAs through horizontal chapters (such as environment, sustainable development, or government procurement), dedicated sectoral chapters, stand-alone annexes, or specific annexes attached to broader chapters like technical barriers to trade.

• Current efforts to include circular economy provisions in regional trade agreements are in early stages, with the European Union currently leading these initiatives.
• Circular economy objectives can be integrated into trade agreements through several structural options: horizontal chapters (covering areas like environment, sustainable development, trade in goods, services, subsidies, investment, or government procurement), dedicated sectoral chapters, stand-alone annexes, or annexes attached to broader chapters such as technical barriers to trade.
• The transition to a circular economy is intended to address three simultaneous crises: climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and the unsustainable use of natural resources.

APA

Sell,, M. (2021). Options to Incorporate Circular Economy Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/circular-economy-regional-trade-agreements

Chicago

Sell,, Malena. Options to Incorporate Circular Economy Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/publications/circular-economy-regional-trade-agreements.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sell, |first1=Malena |title=Options to Incorporate Circular Economy Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=3 May 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/circular-economy-regional-trade-agreements |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sell2021options, author = {Sell,, Malena}, title = {{Options to Incorporate Circular Economy Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/circular-economy-regional-trade-agreements}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }