{
"authors": [],
"type": "pressRelease",
"centerAffiliationAll": "",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "",
"programs": [],
"projects": [],
"regions": [],
"topics": []
}
REQUIRED IMAGE
Source: Carnegie
Trade Preferences and Environmental Goods
Trade, Equity, and Development Series
Issue no. 5
Full Text (PDF)
Summary
For the World Trade Organization (WTO), the most important development in
a decade related to trade-environment linkages is the agreement to liberalize
commerce in environmental goods and services. If properly executed, the agreement
will increase the availability of "green" goods in global markets
and break the North-South deadlock that has paralyzed discussion on the trade
regime governing such goods.
However, WTO members appear to be limiting negotiations to capital-intensive
environmental technologies and engineering services, for which developed countries
enjoy a comparative advantage. These goods account for the largest part of the
$525 billion spent annually on the environmental sector worldwide. However,
they are neither the sole nor most visible part of environmental markets. Green
consumer goods - from energy-efficient lighting to recycled products - together
with resource-based products, including organic produce and sustainable forest
and fisheries products, need to come within the purview of WTO negotiations.
A limited number of print copies are available.
Request
a copy.
Scott Vaughan is visiting scholar with the Carnegie Endowment. He previously held positions with the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Environment Program, the Royal Bank Financial Group (Canada), and the Canadian federal minister of the environment.
The Trade, Equity, and Development (TED) Series is part of an effort by Carnegie's Trade, Equity, and Development Project to broaden the debate surrounding trade liberalization to include perspectives not normally present in the Washington policy community.
Also in the TED series:
Controlling
Corruption: A Key to Development-Oriented Trade, Peter Eigen
Environment's
New Role in U.S. Trade Policy, John Audley
Reforming
Global Trade in Agriculture: A Developing-Country Perspective, Shishir
Priyadarshi
Doha:
Is It Really a Development Round?, Kamal Malhotra
Carnegie India does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
Connecting real-world AI use cases across sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and livelihoods can help policymakers, innovators, and institutions align around a shared goal. This article looks at a framework ensuring that AI works for everyone.
Shalini Kapoor, Tanvi Lall
This piece examines India’s response to U.S. sanctions and tariffs, specifically assessing the immediate market consequences, such as alterations in import costs, and the broader strategic implications for India’s energy security and foreign policy orientation.
Vrinda Sahai
Pacific Island Countries are at a pivotal moment in their digital journeys. Across the region, there is growing recognition of digital transformation as a key driver of economic growth, resilience, and global connectivity.
Shruti Mittal, Adarsh Ranjan
This article looks at the progress of the Semiconductor Laboratory fab modernization plan based on publicly available documents, and potential learnings for future upgrades to government-owned fabs and India’s larger semiconductor ecosystem, especially regarding the use of refurbished equipment.
Shruti Mittal, Konark Bhandari
The India-Pakistan conflict that played out between May 6 and May 10, 2025, offers several military lessons. This article presents key takeaways from Operation Sindoor and breaks down how India’s preparations shaped the outcome and what more is needed to strengthen future readiness.
Dinakar Peri