State of play and future directions on trade and environmental sustainability at the WTO 

The Forum on Trade, Environment and the SDGs (TESS) hosted informal breakfast discussion on the State of play and future directions on trade and environmental sustainability at the WTO on Thursday, 19 May at the Geneva Graduate Institute.

 The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the upcoming TESSD Informal Working Group meetings in an informal off-the-record exchange on hopes and priorities for the TESSD process and for inclusive, multilateral discussions on issues of trade, environment and sustainable development.

The discussion was kicked off by Ana Lizano, Counsellor in the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the WTO, who gave introductory reflections on the TESSD process from the perspective of one of the co-convenors and highlighted some questions for consideration on the road ahead.

The meeting was attended by a mix of 18 delegations reflecting the diversity of the WTO’s membership, including both TESSD cosponsors and non-cosponsors, and represented diverse and geographically-balanced group.