Welcome to our new monthly update. To keep you better informed in a fast-moving policy landscape, we have moved from quarterly to monthly updates, landing in your inbox the first Thursday of every month. Beyond announcements for upcoming TESS events, these updates provide a succinct summary of recent TESS outputs and activities and highlight the ways in which TESS is bridging the gap from ideas to action.
Crafting Pathways that Deliver Trade and Sustainability After MC14
In the wake of MC14, the instinct is to highlight the stark challenges facing the multilateral trading system and the limited progress on either concrete outcomes or the WTO reform agenda. For those focused on a more sustainable future, however, this is a time to think afresh and collaboratively about how the trading system can deliver concrete, fair, and effective progress on sustainability.
Third Ministerial Meeting of the Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate
The Coalition of Trade Ministers on Climate held its Third Ministerial Meeting in the margins of MC14. The meeting highlighted the Coalition’s unique space for high-level dialogue on trade and climate among a broad diversity of ministers. During the meeting, ministers emphasized the value of the Coalition in strengthening inclusive cooperation on the nexus of trade, climate, and sustainable development, offering concrete ideas on priorities and ways forward. As the Coalition's Secretariat, TESS was on the ground supporting the Ministerial meeting. Visit the Coalition’s social media channels to view a new series of messages from trade ministers.
Briefing from the Integrated Forum on Climate Change and Trade
Wednesday, 25 March, Yaoundé
Alongside MC14, governments and stakeholders were briefed on outcomes of the IFCCT’s consultative phase and the roadmap forward—marking a key step towards delivering a practical, inclusive forum at the intersection of climate and trade. The IFCCT’s inaugural meeting will take place in Bonn in June 2026.
Five Years On – Reflections and the Road Ahead for the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions at the WTO
By Carolyn Deere Birkbeck
The five year anniversary of the TESSD initiative and its recent MC14 outcome package present an opportunity to reflect on what this member-led initiative has achieved since its launch, and, importantly, to consider the next steps towards practical solutions and tangible outcomes.
Sustainable Development and the WTO Reform Agenda: A Call to Action for Ministers
TESS circulated this call to action to trade ministers at MC14 on behalf of a diverse group of leading stakeholders from business, civil society and research communities. The joint message calls on ministers to put sustainable development firmly at the heart of ongoing WTO reform discussions..
Advancing Cooperation on Sustainability at the WTO: MC14 and the WTO Reform Agenda as Critical Opportunities
By Carolyn Deere Birkbeck
Much attention was focused on cascading geopolitical challenges in the lead up to WTO MC14. In this pre-Ministerial article Carolyn Deere Birkbeck reminded governments that these important discussions were taking place at a time when addressing the triple environmental crises—climate change, nature loss, and pollution—is more urgent than ever for the stability, resilience, and prosperity of economies everywhere.
TESS at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference
The TESS team was on the ground at MC14 connecting with colleagues across the trade and sustainability communities at a wide range of events, learning more about work underway in the African region, talking to experts about trade and sustainability priorities, and exploring opportunities to forge and deepen collaborations.
Africa's Role in Shaping WTO Reform for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future: High-Level Workshop
Tuesday 24 & Wednesday 25 March, Yaoundé
TESS co-sponsored this workshop on how Africa can shape WTO reform to advance sustainability, equity, and development priorities. Christophe Bellmann from TESS moderated a plenary on "WTO at a Crossroads: MC14 and the Reform Agenda." The event was co-organized by the Remaking Trade Project, ODI Global, the Trade Negotiations and Investment Forum (TNIF), the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS), and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).
Lunchtime Conversation on African Priorities at the Nexus of Trade & Sustainability
Saturday, 28 March, Yaoundé
Seizing the opportunity of the presence of numerous stakeholders attending in the Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference and the IISD’s Trade + Sustainability Hub in Yaoundé, this light lunch roundtable brought together leading experts on trade, environment, and sustainable development.
Trump’s Tariffs Have Gutted AGOA’s Duty‑Free Promise: Our Model Shows How
By Tim Vogel and Zoryana Olekseyuk
This new Synergies article originally published in The Conversation by Tim Vogel, Research Associate at IDOS and Zoryana Olekseyuk, Project Lead & Researcher at IDOS, argues that African policymakers should seize this moment to build a foundation for a trade system that doesn’t depend on uncertain preferences and external policy shocks.
Video Series: What are the Top Sustainability Priorities in need of Attention by the Global Trading System?
The global trading system is in the midst of a period of instability and uncertainty. To help ensure environment and sustainability goals do not become a casualty of this disruption, we’re asking global trade experts for their thoughts. This new video series asks: What are the top environment and sustainability priorities in need of attention by the global trading system?
