Faced with the urgent need to take action on the climate crisis, adapt to its impacts, and build climate-resilient development pathways, many governments and other stakeholders are exploring and debating where and how trade and trade policies can play a role.
This report reviews a set of recognized principles of international law that the expert group deems especially relevant for consideration in the design and implementation of trade-related climate measures and policies. Shared understandings around such principles could go a long way in reducing tensions and avoiding politically charged disputes at the WTO, while facilitating cooperation on inclusive trade policies that support climate action and advance sustainable development.
The report also aims to provide governments with some general guidance, which, it is hoped, could be useful in the design and implementation of trade-related climate measures and policies in a manner that bridges different areas of law coherently, while recognizing that the relevance and operation of principles will depend on the type of measure and context.