Execution of environmental measures shouldn't disable trade: UK at WTO

01 Aug '23

1 min read

Pic: Bernsten / Shutterstock

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The development and implementation of trade-related environmental measures should not disable trade, the United Kingdom recently told the WTO General Council.
Echoing concerns of the global business community about not renewing the customs duties moratorium, it said WTO should promote sustainable industrialisation in least developed countries.

Supporting the Africa Group’s opinion that the development and implementation of trade-related environmental measures need to be looked at through a developmental prism, the United Kingdom recently said at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) General Council that this should be done in a way that does not disable trade.

“What we should be looking at in the CTE [Committee on Trade and Environment] is ways in which we can use trade policy positively to enable us all to reach the net zero targets, which are more essential than ever,” the UK representative said.

At the meeting, the United Kingdom echoed concerns of the global business community about not renewing the customs duties moratorium.

“We should be looking at how this organisation [WTO] can best promote sustainable industrialisation particularly in LDCs [least developed countries], as well as address some of those global challenges,” a UK government press release quoted the country’s representative as saying.

Recognising that some members face capacity constraints as they seek to exploit the opportunities, it said that’s why it supports developing countries, particularly LDCs, through the Air for Trade programme, technical assistance, capacity building and its new trade preferences scheme.

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