Thematic Focus

		thematic focus

	Environmental Goods and Services Developing countries may derive benefits from the liberalization of trade in environmental good and services (EGS), such as access to environmentally sound technologies and know-how, upgraded environmental infrastructure, more efficient resource management and improved environmental and public-health conditions. The CBTF will seek to enhance understanding of the implications of liberalization of EGS for sustainable development, including the impacts on balance of trade, and help developing countries to identify EGS, including environmentally preferable products, of special importance to their trade, environment and development objectives through capacity building events and thematic studies.			Environmental Goods & Services Organic Agriculture MEA's-WTO Relationship

	Organic Agriculture Organic Agriculture (OA) offers a range of environmental, social and economic benefits for developing countries. On the economic side, growing world markets for OA products offer interesting export opportunities for developing countries who may have some comparative advantage in OA due to relatively abundant labour and lower use of agrochemicals. In addition, OA production has been shown to have a positive effect on the local environment, biodiversity and soil fertility, and has the potential to increase the yields and incomes of subsistence farmers in developing countries who are not currently using agrochemicals, thus contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable rural development. The CBTF supports interested countries through country projects and thematic research studies aimed at developing win-win policy options through promoting OA and easing access of organic products in overseas markets. Projects: Promoting Production and Trading Opportunities for Organic Agricultural Products in East Africa			Environmental Goods & Services Organic Agriculture MEA's-WTO Relationship

	MEA's-WTO Relationship Strengthening the mutual supportiveness of trade and environment policies is required to maximize their joint contribution to sustainable development. Understanding the relationship between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and international trade is a key aspect in building this mutual supportiveness. There is, however, sometimes a lack of understanding between the policymakers active in these two separate fields. The CBTF helps to bring policymakers from trade and environment fields together to discuss ways of ensuring that MEAs and trade maximize their synergies and minimize areas of potential tension. The CBTF will continue to convene workshops back-to-back with WTO seminars to discuss these issues, and will support country-level projects focused on promoting the mutual supportiveness of MEAs and international trade.			Environmental Goods & Services Organic Agriculture MEA's-WTO Relationship