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A joint statement from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) to the USTR requesting that the United States adopt a policy of requesting open web-cast hearings for all World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement proceedings to increase transparency and accessibility.

A statement from the Center for International Environmental Law and WWF European Policy Office to the European Commission requesting the adoption of a policy to support web-casting for all World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement hearings to increase transparency and accessibility.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law analyzes proposals from the European Communities (EC) and the NAMA-11 group to establish a 'facilitative mechanism' for resolving non-tariff measures (NTMs) within the WTO. The author argues that such a mechanism would move the WTO away from its rules-based dispute settlement system toward a confidential, non-binding process focused solely on trade impacts, potentially undermining environmental and public health regulations and leaving developing countries vulnerable to power politics.

This amicus curiae brief submitted to the WTO Panel argues that Brazil's import ban on retreaded tires is justified under GATT Article XX. The document contends that a life-cycle approach to product analysis reveals that importing retreaded tires increases waste and public health risks in developing countries, and that such measures are supported by multilateral environmental agreements, human rights law, and the international environmental law principle of prevention.

This briefing summarizes legal opinions from the ISEAL Alliance and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) regarding the use of voluntary international standards in government technical regulations and their relationship to the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). It specifically examines whether non-product related Process and Production Method (npr PPM) standards, such as social and environmental standards, fall under the TBT Agreement's scope and how governments can legally reference such standards.

This briefing, produced by the ISEAL Alliance and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), summarizes legal opinions on the ability of governments to reference voluntary international standards, specifically non-product related Process and Production Method (npr PPM) standards such as social and environmental criteria, in government procurement under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

This written testimony by Glenn M. Wiser of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives on March 2, 2006, advocates for legislation to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the LRTAP POPs Protocol, and the Rotterdam PIC Convention. Wiser compares two proposed bills to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)—H.R. 4800 (Solis bill) and H.R. 4591 (Gillmor bill)—arguing that only the Solis bill adequately implements the health and environmental protection goals of the Stockholm Convention.

This briefing analyzes the February 7, 2006, interim report from a World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Panel regarding the EC-Biotech case, which found certain European Communities measures inconsistent with WTO rules.

The IPEN Dubai Declaration for a Toxics-Free Future is a 2006 statement by the International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) outlining a commitment to achieve a 'Toxics-Free Future' by 2020. The declaration calls for the phase-out of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), the adoption of the precautionary principle in chemical safety, and the implementation of 'polluter pays' and 'no data, no market' principles globally.

The report examines the WTO dispute between Brazil and the European Community over Brazil's ban on retreaded tire imports. Brazil argues the ban is necessary to prevent environmental degradation and health risks (such as mosquito-borne diseases) caused by the import of short-lifespan products from the EU, which faces its own strict waste tire disposal regulations. The document analyzes the legal defenses under GATT Article XX, the role of the Basel Convention on hazardous waste, and the influence of contradictory Mercosur arbitral decisions on the case.

A joint statement from numerous environmental and health organizations urging the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce to support the Solis bill (H.R. 4800) over the Gillmor bill (H.R. 4591) to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) via amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that international dispute settlement mechanisms, particularly in trade and investment, lack the transparency, public participation, and accountability necessary for democratic governance. The author contends that these processes often impact public policy and human rights while operating under secretive models derived from private commercial arbitration.

A statement from North American civil society organizations prepared for the Ninth Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF). The document outlines recommendations for global environmental governance, focusing on chemicals management, energy transition, and sustainable tourism, while emphasizing the specific responsibilities of North American governments and the vulnerability of the Arctic region.

This report examines the potential for integrating disclosure requirements into the global intellectual property (IP) system to ensure mutual supportiveness between the WTO TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It focuses on requiring patent applicants to disclose the origin of genetic resources and traditional knowledge, as well as providing evidence of prior informed consent (PIC) and benefit-sharing, to prevent 'biopiracy' and ensure equitable returns to provider countries and indigenous communities.

This document is a facilitator's summary of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) North American Regional Civil Society Consultation held on 28 October 2005. The meeting aimed to gather recommendations from North American civil society organizations to inform the 9th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) and the preceding Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF). The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment.

An open letter from trade unions and civil society organizations to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy protesting the "undemocratic and deceptive" process used by the Chair of the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial statement. The signatories argue that the process ignores the lack of consensus on specific trade objectives and threatens the policy space of developing countries.

An open letter dated October 27, 2005, addressed to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy by a coalition of civil society organizations. The letter protests the "anti-democratic" methods used by the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial declaration, specifically criticizing the manipulation of the 'consensus' rule to include contested objectives while excluding agreed-upon safeguards.

An open letter from various civil society organizations to WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, criticizing the undemocratic process used by the Council for Trade in Services to draft a ministerial declaration. The signatories argue that the current approach redefines 'consensus' by allowing the Chair to include non-consensual elements while requiring full agreement to remove them, potentially undermining the policy space of developing countries.

An open letter from civil society organizations to the Member States of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), urging the adoption of clear, objective, and public guidelines for civil society participation and access to information ahead of the Thirty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the UPOV Council on October 27, 2005.

This briefing paper, prepared by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in September 2005, provides background on international chemicals management for participants of the 7th Global Civil Society Forum. It details the challenges of global chemical regulation, the roles of various intergovernmental organizations and civil society networks, and the development of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).