Trade-Related Climate Priorities for CARICOM at the World Trade Organization

The document analyzes the extreme vulnerability of CARICOM states to climate change, noting that while the region contributes only 0.33% of global greenhouse gas emissions, its key trade sectors—tourism, agriculture, and the blue economy—face existential threats. It identifies a gap in the region's trade policy, which currently lacks a clear articulation of how to serve climate resilience. The paper suggests that CARICOM can leverage its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to identify WTO negotiating priorities, such as technology transfer, climate finance, and the removal of trade barriers for environmental goods. It specifically recommends that the WTO recognize the unique vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and move beyond a developed-country agenda to support SIDS' offensive interests in carbon markets and the blue economy.

• CARICOM states are exceptionally vulnerable to climate change due to geographic isolation, small land masses, and high population concentration in coastal areas, facing existential threats if global warming exceeds 1.5°C.
• Despite contributing only 0.33% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the region's most tradeable sectors are severely impacted; the energy sector is the primary emitter, with Trinidad and Tobago being the largest regional emitter.
• The agricultural sector is highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, with examples including Grenada losing 10% of GDP from Hurricane Ivan and Dominica suffering $179.6 million in losses from Hurricane Maria.
• CARICOM's trade policy lacks a clear strategy for climate resilience, often being influenced by the agendas of major partners like the EU, whose Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) may negatively impact exports such as ammonia from Trinidad and Tobago.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can be used to identify trade priorities, as they frequently emphasize restrictions on energy-inefficient imports, the use of domestic standards, and the need for technology transfer.
• The author recommends that the WTO formally recognize the specific environmental vulnerabilities of SIDS and coordinate more closely with the UNFCCC to align trade and climate goals.

APA

Remy, J. Y. (2023). Trade-Related Climate Priorities for CARICOM at the World Trade Organization. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Priorities-for-CARICOM-at-the-WTO.pdf?dm=1678288546

Chicago

Remy, Jan Yves. Trade-Related Climate Priorities for CARICOM at the World Trade Organization. Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs, 2023. https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Priorities-for-CARICOM-at-the-WTO.pdf?dm=1678288546.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Remy |first1=Jan Yves |title=Trade-Related Climate Priorities for CARICOM at the World Trade Organization |publisher=Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs |date=January 2023 |url=https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Priorities-for-CARICOM-at-the-WTO.pdf?dm=1678288546 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{remy2023traderelated, author = {Remy, Jan Yves}, title = {{Trade-Related Climate Priorities for CARICOM at the World Trade Organization}}, institution = {Forum on Trade, Environment, \& the SDGs}, year = {2023}, month = jan, url = {https://lyrical-cormorant.files.svdcdn.com/production/assets/images/Publications/TESS-Policy-Paper-Trade-Related-Priorities-for-CARICOM-at-the-WTO.pdf?dm=1678288546}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }