The 2001 Doha Ministerial Declaration instructs members to negotiate on the reduction or, as appropriate, elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers on environmental goods and services. It has been emphasized that these negotiations should aim at achieving sustainable development by creating a triple win situation for trade, the environment and development.

Win-win-win

• First, the negotiations can facilitate trade through the reduction or elimination of tariff and non tariff barriers (NTBs). Domestic purchasers, including business and governments at all levels, will be able to acquire environmental technologies at lower costs. In addition, liberalizing trade in environmental goods will encourage the use of environmental technologies, which can in turn stimulate innovation and technology transfer.

• The negotiations can also benefit the environment by improving countries’ ability to obtain high quality environmental goods. This can directly improve the quality of life for citizens in all countries by providing a cleaner environment and better access to safe water, sanitation or clean energy. In addition, the use of environmental goods can reduce harmful side-effects of various activities (what economists call “negative externalities”) that damage the environment and are hazardous to human health and can help make the use of energy significantly more efficient.

• Finally, the liberalization of trade in environmental goods and services can be beneficial for development by assisting developing countries in obtaining the tools needed to address key environmental priorities as part of their on going development strategies.

Goods and services

The provision of environmental services is closely linked with trade in related goods, since many environmental activities entail the delivery of services that use goods.

For instance, in the case of wastewater management, “environmental services” could include design, management or other services for sewage treatment systems, wastewater reuse systems, and water handling systems. These services require in most cases the use of goods, such as material for the collection, treatment and transport of wastewater, including pipes, pumps, valves, as well as aeration, gravity sedimentation, and chemical treatment equipment.