Do you know what ‘CTE’ stands for? As always, context is essential; otherwise, your favourite search engine’s top result might just as well be ‘Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy’, which is a progressive brain condition linked to repeated head trauma such as concussions and blows to the head. CTE is often associated with contact sports.

Should you refine your search to trade, the search engine results will show ‘Committee on Trade and Environment’, and, more specifically, ‘World Trade Organisation (WTO) CTE’.

The CTE is the standing forum, established in 1995, dedicated to dialogue among the entire WTO membership on the impact of trade policies on the environment and environmental policies on trade. At the CTE, WTO members discuss proposals to strengthen cooperation in carbon emission policies.

At the most recent CTE meeting, held on November 4, discussion focused on proposals to foster greater transparency and cooperation amid various carbon emission policies that may impact on the flow of trade. Members were also briefed on the CTE’s Sustainable Agriculture Thematic Session, which was held earlier in the week.

China introduced a new proposal to strengthen discussions and cooperation on carbon standards, noting that an increasing number of new requirements are emerging that will impact on both trade and climate change. China’s proposal aims to build on existing efforts across WTO bodies, offering suggestions in three areas: conducting a systematic review of carbon standards and enhancing information sharing within the WTO and its relevant bodies, as well as with other international organisations; strengthening discussions and cooperation on carbon standards; and addressing the challenges faced by developing-country members.

Several members emphasised the need to align the CTE’s work with existing efforts of other WTO bodies, especially the WTO’s Technical Barriers to Trade Committee, to avoid duplication of work and ensure that discussions consider the varying capabilities of developing-county members.

Japan updated members on the revised proposal for methodologies to measure embedded carbon emissions, emphasising that its proposed non-binding guidance focuses on regulatory coherence and would not entail new obligations on members. The East Asian county welcomed members’ engagement to address gaps and any remaining concerns, and to advance discussions by focusing on transparency in the coming months, before moving on to other aspects of its proposal.

Many members supported Japan’s focus on transparency, with some noting that the effort should not extend to providing specific guidance, even if non-binding. Several members reiterated the need to consider the development dimension in any work undertaken in this area.

Members also briefly discussed the Russian Federation’s submission on potential trade implications arising from any future global treaty on plastic pollution.

The WTO secretariat presented the 2024 data from the WTO Environmental Database (EDB), covering 1 637 environment-related measures drawn from 792 notifications.

Members were briefed on developments regarding the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP). Launched by a group of members in November 2020, the initiative aims to explore how the WTO can contribute to efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote the transition to more environmentally sustainable trade in plastics.

The briefing extended to the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD), launched in November 2020 to advance discussions on trade and environmental sustainability. TESSD discussions are intended to complement the work of the CTE and other relevant WTO bodies, and to support the objectives of the Marrakesh Agreement, which led to the establishment on January 1, 1995, of the WTO, envisioning a global trading system that protects and preserves the environment in line with sustainable development.

The briefing concluded with the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) initiative, which was launched in December 2021, seeking to achieve the rationalisation, phasing-out or elimination of harmful fossil fuel subsidies through the use of existing mechanisms or the development of new pathways to reform. Member countries were encouraged to share information and experiences before the CTE’s next meeting in February 2026 in order to advance discussions at the WTO.

The information links to the data and the initiatives covered in this article are:

EDB - https://edb.wto.org/

DPP - https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/ppesp_e/ppesp_e.htm

TESSD - https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tessd_e/tessd_e.htm

FFSR - https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/envir_e/fossil_fuel_e.htm

PO Quote

At the most recent meeting, discussion focused on proposals to foster greater transparency and cooperation amid various carbon emission policies that may impact the flow of trade