Trade and Environment Policies

Trade and environment policies mutually supportive would be a role, with environmental considerations should be observed throughout the negotiation. The EU exerted pressure for a number of specific issues to discuss. This included not only the maximization of positive cooperation between trade liberalization, environmental protection and economic development, but also:

• Clarification of the relationship between WTO rules and trade measures taken under multilateral environmental agreements – the WTO would have to adapt aanwereldwijd agreed instruments
• Clarification of the relationship between WTO rules and processes and production not affiliated with the product, especially in connection with the use of eco-labels;
• Investigating the role of core principles of environmental law, particularly the precautionary principle in relation to WTO rules;
• Encourage cooperation between the WTO and relevant international organizations.

The EU also instructed to study in several stages over the sustainability impact assessment, beginning in preparation for the proposed Millennium Round, with the aim of identifying potential environmental and social impacts for different groups of countries.