Boosting trade and tackling climate change

Boosting trade between countries and helping tackle climate change are the main ideas behind an environmental goods agreement that is being negotiated by the EU and 16 World Trade Organisation countries since 2014.

Deciding which environmental goods will end up on a list of goods for which tariffs will be eliminated is a key part of the debate right now. MEP Christofer Fjellner, the EPP Group shadow rapporteur on the Environmental Goods Agreement wants the list to be as long as possible. The EU’s Trade Commissioner said the agreement would be good for the environment, for business and for jobs.

Australia’s Ambassador to the WTO also highlighted the benefits of the agreement for trade, economies, the environment and jobs and said efforts were being made to reach a deal this year. Australia is chairing the ongoing negotiations.

Negotiations with the EU and the 16 WTO members are ongoing. A big G20 conference in September this year is seen as an opportunity to reach a deal.