Trade in Environmental Goods, with Focus on Climate-Friendly Goods and Technologies

29 Pages Posted: 21 Nov 2011

See all articles by ZhongXiang Zhang

ZhongXiang Zhang

Tianjin University - Ma Yinchu School of Economics

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: November 21, 2011

Abstract

Paragraph 31 of the Doha Ministerial Declaration mandates to the liberalization of environmental goods and services. This mandate offers a good opportunity to put climate-friendly goods and services on a fast track to liberalization. Agreement on this paragraph should represent one immediate contribution that the WTO can make to fight against climate change. This paper presents the key issues surrounding the liberalization of trade in climate-friendly goods and technologies in WTO environmental goods negotiations. It begins with discussing what products to liberalize and how. Given that WTO Members are divided by this key issue, the paper explores options to move current negotiations on the liberalization of trade in environmental goods and technologies forward, both within and outside the WTO. Recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for tariff liberalization for all countries and for all environmental goods, the paper suggests the need for a high degree of flexibility to accommodate different situations and stakes in the liberalization of trade in environmental goods. Given that there are simply not enough environmental markets or these markets are weak in many developing countries, the paper emphasizes that creating markets for environmental goods in developing countries is far more important than just improving market-access conditions for associated goods, and discusses how to best serve the interests and concerns of developing countries.

Keywords: environmental goods and services, low-carbon goods and technologies, market access, Doha Round, WTO, renewable energy technologies

JEL Classification: F18, F13, P28, Q42, Q48, Q56, Q54, Q58, Q48

Suggested Citation

Zhang, ZhongXiang, Trade in Environmental Goods, with Focus on Climate-Friendly Goods and Technologies (November 21, 2011). FEEM Working Paper No. 77.2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1962527 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1962527

ZhongXiang Zhang (Contact Author)

Tianjin University - Ma Yinchu School of Economics ( email )

92 Weijin Road, Nankai District
Tianjin 300072
China
+86 22 87370560 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://ideas.repec.org/f/pzh243.html

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