Information session on quantitative restrictions and their relation to multilateral environmental agreements

15:00 - 15:10

Welcome and introduction

Speaker

• Mr. Chakarin Komolsiri, Chairperson, Committee on Market Access

Session 1 — 15:10 – 15:45

Introduction to Quantitative Restrictions (QRs)

• Definition of QRs in Article XI of the GATT 1994
• Carve-outs and exceptions
• The 2012 Decision on notification procedures
• Overview of QRs notified by WTO Members

Q&A session

Speakers

• Roberta Lascari/Simon Neumueller, Market Access Division, WTO

Session 2 — 15:45– 16:15

Trade-related measures in Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)

• Overview of Membership to MEAs
• The WTO's Environmental Database (EDB)
• Trade-related environmental measures that fall within the scope of the QR Decision

Q&A session

Speakers

• Sajal Mathur/Marisol Dar Ali Rothschuh, Trade and Environment Division, WTO

Session 3 — 16:15-17:00

Case study: the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Conventions

• Overview of the BRS Conventions
• Product coverage
• Latest amendments
• What are the trade-related measures? How do these agreements operate?
• National contact points

Q&A session

Speakers

• Malika Amélie Sonia Taoufiq-Cailliau, Legal Officer, Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions, UN Environment Programme

Session 4 — 17:00-17:30

Classification of products covered by MEAs in the Harmonized System (HS): the WCO “Interconnection tables”

Q&A session

Speaker

• Sujin Yuk, Technical Officer HS Nomenclature, World Customs Organization

Session 5 — 17:30-18:00

Experience sharing: lessons learnt by delegations that have notified QR related environmental measures

Q&A session

Speakers

• WTO delegates

18:00

Closing remarks

Speaker

• Mr. Chakarin Komolsiri Chairperson, Committee on Market Access