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The Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate has established a framework of voluntary actions to integrate trade policy with climate goals. Key priorities include fostering dialogue between trade, climate, and finance ministers, engaging with the WTO on sustainable development, and providing technical assistance to vulnerable developing countries. The menu also emphasizes cooperation on green technologies, decarbonisation standards, and private sector engagement to build resilient supply chains.

TESS supports the WTO's Dialogue on Plastics Pollution (DPP) and its draft Ministerial Statement for MC13, emphasizing that trade policies are essential tools for addressing plastic pollution. TESS advocates for a post-MC13 workplan that includes 'deep-dive sessions' on challenges like single-use plastics and sachets, particularly focusing on the needs of developing countries, LDCs, and SIDS. The statement also highlights TESS's upcoming initiatives, including a panel at MC13 and a seminar with the World Customs Organization on Harmonized System (HS) amendments.

TESS supports the revised draft Ministerial Statement for the WTO Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP), noting its evolution from identifying issues to agreeing on voluntary international cooperation. The statement emphasizes the need for trade-related capacity building for developing members, including LDCs, SVEs, and SIDS, and suggests that the DPP's work should complement the negotiations for a legally binding international instrument on plastic pollution. TESS also promotes its own policy research on standards, single-use plastics, and waste management technologies to inform the dialogue.

The Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) provided a statement at the WTO Dialogue on Plastic Pollution (DPP) pre-plenary meeting on 13 June 2024. TESS advocates for narrowing the DPP's scope to achieve concrete, actionable outcomes, specifically focusing on harmonizing definitions of single-use plastics, reforming HS nomenclature for better visibility of problematic plastics, and promoting trade in environmentally sound waste management technologies.

The paper examines the fragmented landscape of emissions intensity benchmarks and accounting methodologies for the cement and steel industries, which together contribute approximately 15% of global emissions. It argues that the current 'patchwork' of differing thresholds and methodologies increases compliance costs for businesses and hinders the international trade of low-carbon materials. To enable market growth and effective industrial decarbonization, the author advocates for greater harmonization, improved data quality, and interoperability across global standards.

The paper argues that the wind power industry is integrated primarily through foreign direct investment rather than trade, and that promoting global integration can reduce technology costs and foster innovation without sacrificing local job creation.

The paper examines the global integration of the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, focusing on the tension between the need for open global markets to lower costs and the desire for national policies to protect domestic green jobs. It argues that long-term government support, a price on carbon, and the removal of trade barriers are essential for accelerating deployment and innovation.